title: Clinical management of electrical burns in the developing world: a case of electrical burn injury left untreated leading to amputation.
abstract: We discuss the case of a 26-year-old male patient from Northern Samar, the Philippines who was left without essential health services after the amputation of all four limbs following a high voltage (20 000 volts) injury in Metro Manila in 2011. Local health services in the developing world are faced with enormous challenges in providing first-line care for burn patients. The cost of maintaining a burn unit, finding suitable qualified staff, and appropriate referral mechanisms are only some of the challenges faced. Once a patient is discharged from hospital they face more obstacles in obtaining artificial limbs, physiotherapy and access to mental health services. Disability pensions are non-existent thus patients place a considerable lifelong burden on their families.
authors.affiliation: Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Southport, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Choong
authors.affiliation: Municipal Medical Officer of Health, Palpag, Philippines.
authors.forename: Delia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chy
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Muntinlupa City, Philippines.
authors.forename: Jerric R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Guevarra
authors.affiliation: Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Southport, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Allen G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Ross
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D001132:Arm; D002053:Burn Units / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution; D002058:Burns, Electric / Q000628:therapy*; D003906:Developing Countries; D005378:Financial Support; D014943:Global Health; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D010679:Philippines; D061665:Time-to-Treatment