title: Lightning strikes: nature of neurological damage in patients evaluated in hospital emergency departments.
abstract: Emergency physicians and staff are usually the first to evaluate and manage victims of lightning strikes. Damage to the nervous system is often the most devastating consequence of lightning strikes. Contrary to most articles in the literature in which neurological disorders are said to be either transient or delayed, we report the cases of six patients with severe, immediate, and in at least three, permanent clinical problems. Patients with signs of spinal cord lesions are most likely to have permanent disabilities.
authors.affiliation: Neurosciences Department, St Anthony Hospital, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cherington
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yarnell
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lammereste
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000293:injuries*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015168:Lightning Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010243:Paralysis / Q000209:etiology; D011379:Prognosis; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology