ABSTRACT
Background: Burn injuries are a global public health problem and continue to be one of the leading causes of unintentional death and injury. Electrical injuries, a relatively rare cause of burns, are increasingly being reported with higher rates of mortality in low and middle-income countries due to rapid industrialization in the absence of safety regulations. Electrical burn injuries can result in death, various organ system dysfunctions, or limb amputations. Methods: A 5-year retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the rate of amputation and associated risk factors in electrical burn injuries among burn patients at AaBET Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Results: The rate of amputation among the 150 patients admitted with electrical burn in the study period was 33.3% (n = 50). A majority (62%; n = 31) of the patients were men (M:F 1.6:1) in the age range of 18-65 years. A fallen electrical wire coming in contact with the patients was the cause of the electrical burns in 50% of the cases. 65.3% of the patients had upper limb amputations, whereas 34.7% had lower limb amputations. Major amputations were more likely to occur when the entry site was the hand, whereas minor amputations were more likely to occur when the entry site was the scalp (P = 0.005). Conclusions: Younger male patients were identified as the main victims of electrical burns that resulted in amputations. Electrical burns showed substantial morbidity and mortality of patients. Total body surface area and entry site being the hand significantly affected the level and site of amputation.
ABSTRACT
Schwannomas are benign tumors of the nerve sheath that arise from the proliferation of active peripheral Schwann cells. Although schwannomas are the most common benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors, superficial peroneal nerve schwannomas are rare in published works of literature. We report a 45-year-old woman with a 4-year history of progressively worsening dull aching pain and paresthesia over the right lateral leg. Physical examination revealed a 4 × 3 cm firm palpable mass and a decreased touch and pain sensation over the lateral aspect of the right calf and dorsum of the foot. She also had an electric shock-like pain on palpation and percussion of the mass. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a well-defined, oval, smooth-walled heterogeneous lesion beneath the peroneus muscle with avid postcontrast enhancement and a split fat sign. Fine needle aspiration cytology also suggested the diagnosis of schwannoma. Based on clinical findings of a mass, decreased sensation, and a positive Tinel sign on the dermatome of superficial peroneal nerve, surgical management was decided. Upon surgical exploration, a firm, glistening mass arising from the superficial peroneal nerve was identified, carefully dissected, and shelled out while maintaining continuity of the nerve. At the 5-month follow-up, the patient reported complete resolution of the pain and paresthesia. Physical examination revealed intact sensation in the lower lateral aspect of the right calf and dorsum of the foot. Therefore, surgical excision should be considered a reasonable option in the management of this rare condition, with most patients achieving good to excellent results.
