title: Evaluation of quantum of disability as sequelae of electric burn injuries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  All will agree that invention of electricity has changed the world. Today nobody can think of living without an uninterrupted supply. Electricity is definitely a boon to the mankind but this turns into a curse when it becomes a cause of disaster. Electrical burn injuries are the most destructive injuries with a potential of causing significant functional disability and extensive disfigurement in the survivors.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out a retrospective observational study on the 110 patients of electric burns admitted to our hospital between January 2007 and October 2014. The aim of the study was to determine the demographic and clinical profile of patients who had sustained electrical burn injury, with a special emphasis on limb loss. Section-2 of Workman's Compensation Act 1923 was used for the calculation of an individual's disability due to amputation. All the data was analysed using method of simple percentages and presented in a tabular form.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty eight patients (43.63%) of electric burn belonged to the age group of 21-30 y, with male preponderance (M:F:: 93.6 : 6.4). This shows that the individual affected more often are invariably the breadwinners of the family.Twenty four, out of these 110 patients have undergone one or more than one amputation. Significantly the numbers of upper limb amputations have exceeded any other amputation in this study. Mortality in patients of electrical burns is 6.36% in comparison to mortality of 45.67% in all burn patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Loss of upper limb completely reduces the earning capacity of an individual. Future and fortune of the individual's family is jeopardized. Such accidents can be prevented by following safety norms and simple precautions while using the electrical equipment.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, Sri Aurobindo Medical College and PG institute , Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India .
authors.forename: Ajay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lunawat
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Surgery, Sri Aurobindo Medical College and PG institute , Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India .
authors.forename: Sanjay M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Datey
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, Sri Aurobindo Medical College and PG institute , Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India .
authors.forename: Avinash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vishwani
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, Sri Aurobindo Medical College and PG institute , Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India .
authors.forename: Rishikant
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vashistha
authors.affiliation: Resident, Department of Surgery, Sri Aurobindo Medical College and PG institute , Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India .
authors.forename: Vikramaditya
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Resident, Department of Surgery, Sri Aurobindo Medical College and PG institute , Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India .
authors.forename: Tanmay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maheshwari
keywords: Amputation; Disfigurement; Electricity; Workman’s compensation