Question 1

What is true about electrical injuries? (Select all that apply.)&#10;A) Alternating current causes tetanic skeletal muscle contractions.&#10;B) Direct current is more dangerous than alternating current.&#10;C) Electrical injury causes more tissue necrosis in nerves than other tissues.&#10;D) Lightning is less lethal because the duration of electrical strike is short.&#10;E) Low-voltage contact has no potential to be lethal.

Accepted Answer

A) Alternating current (AC) is more likely to cause tetanic skeletal muscle contractions than direct current (DC), which can lead to prolonged muscle contractions and potentially more severe secondary injuries, such as fractures or dislocations from falls.C) Electrical injury can cause significant tissue necrosis, with nerves and muscles being particularly susceptible due to their high conductivity and the heat generated by electrical resistance within these tissues.D) Lightning strikes, despite their extremely high voltage, are less lethal than might be expected because the duration of the strike is very short, often just a few microseconds, which limits the amount of energy delivered to the body.

Question 2

An adolescent male has received an electrical injury from a high-voltage wire that was found lying on the ground. The adolescent is stabilized by the emergency medical service (EMS) personnel who responded to the call. Upon arrival at the emergency department, which diagnostic test is the priority?

A) 12-lead electrocardiogram
B) Cervical spine radiography
C) Complete blood count and electrolytes
D) Creatine kinase and myoglobin level

A

Accepted Answer

The priority diagnostic test for an adolescent with an electrical injury is a 12-lead electrocardiogram to assess for any cardiac dysrhythmias, as they are a common complication of electrical injuries. The other diagnostic tests may also be ordered as part of the overall assessment but are secondary in priority to the electrocardiogram.

Deck 27: Electrical Injuries