ABSTRACT
Electrical injury is a serious and growing concern in today’s medical community. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, there were an estimated 46,598 nonfatal electrical injuries in the United States between 1992 and 2002. Patients who survive electric shock and lightning strikes are often misdiagnosed because they are infrequently seen in a medical practice. The overlooked diagnosis rate for lightning injury and electrical injury patients has been reported to be 93% and 98.2%, respectively. When symptoms of neurological complaints exist, neuro-diagnostic studies are required to determine the presence and extent of neuromuscular dysfunction. The clinical history and physical exam remain the most sensitive means of diagnosing neurological injury. When an applied electrical potential drop is established across the human body, mobile charges will migrate and an electrical current is established between the points of contact. The frequency of the electrical current is an important factor to the distribution of current density through the body.
