title: Train surfing and other high voltage trauma: differences in injury-related mechanisms and operative outcomes after fasciotomy, amputation and soft-tissue coverage.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the context of scarce reports on train surfers among high voltage electric injuries, we conducted a retrospective review between January 1994 and December 2008.
  
  
  METHODS
  After matching for inclusion criteria we reviewed patient records of 37 true high voltage injuries (12 train surfers [TS] and 25 other high voltage injuries [HV]).
  
  
  RESULTS
  TS were significantly younger (TS 15.8 years vs. HV 33.3 years, p<0.0001), and had a greater %TBSA (TS 49.7%TBSA vs. HV 21.5%TBSA, p=0.0003) without affecting the median length-of-stay (TS 52 days vs. HV 49 days) or number of operations (TS 4 vs. HV 3). TS had different injury patterns, with a higher percentage of affected extremities (TS 72.9% vs. HV 52.0%, p=0.0468) and associated injuries (TS 58% vs. HV 20%, n.s.) than HV. Both groups demonstrated comparable fasciotomy (TS 71.4% vs. HV 55.8%) and amputation rates (TS 17.1% vs. HV 15.4%). While TS required less flaps (TS 3/12 vs. HV 18/25; p=0.0153), soft-tissue reconstruction revealed an overall low incidence of complication rates (one partial pedicled flap loss and two total free flap losses).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Train surfers have proven to be a distinct group of patients among high-voltage injuries notably as a result of a younger age, a shorter electric contact duration and higher velocity-induced trauma. With a possibly declining trend of train surfing-related accidents in an aging society, it will be interesting to see if emerging economies will face comparable phenomena, for which prevention strategies remain key.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. david.lumenta@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: David Benjamin
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Lumenta
authors.forename: Martin Friedrich
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Vierhapper
authors.forename: Lars-Peter
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Kamolz
authors.forename: Maike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keck
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002058:Burns, Electric / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005121:Extremities / Q000601:surgery; D000071938:Fasciotomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011890:Railroads; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult