Lightning Related Trauma: The Effects of "Side Flash" Injuries

DOI 11 References
  • Usumoto Yosuke
    Department of Critical Care and Traumatology, National Hospital Organization Disaster Medical Center
  • Hifumi Toru
    Department of Critical Care and Traumatology, National Hospital Organization Disaster Medical Center
  • Kiriu Nobuaki
    Department of Critical Care and Traumatology, National Hospital Organization Disaster Medical Center
  • Inoue Jun-ichi
    Department of Critical Care and Traumatology, National Hospital Organization Disaster Medical Center
  • Kato Hiroshi
    Department of Critical Care and Traumatology, National Hospital Organization Disaster Medical Center
  • Homma Masato
    Department of Critical Care and Traumatology, National Hospital Organization Disaster Medical Center
  • Inui Akifumi
    Department of Electronics and Informatics Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Kokushikan University

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Other Title
  • 側撃雷が生死を分けた雷撃傷の２例

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When electrical current passes through a living organism electrical injury can occur. While lightning injuries are similar to electric injuries some characteristics differ. This includes the circumstances surrounding the injury, associated clinical symptoms, and the prognosis related to each type of injury. A 66-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman were both struck by lightning while sheltering beneath a large tree. Upon admission to our hospital, physical examination revealed feathering burns on both patients. The man was unable to be resuscitated and died from cardio pulmonary arrest but the woman was discharged on the 7th day of admission with no significant complications. Feathering burns can appear when an electrical spark discharge comes in contact with the surface of the human body. From an electrical engineering perspective, an electrical spark discharge spreads out like branches allowing the direction of the current to be known. From examination of both patients' feathering burns and information obtained from the survivor, the outcome of patients struck by lightning was speculated through the direction of an electric current. In the case of the man with CPA, a phenomenon called “side flash” had a large impact on the prognosis. It is known that the prevention of being struck by lightning is very important; however, lightning injury from “side flash” is not well understood. Future research can contribute to measures which may decrease the number of people who suffers from lightning injury.

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