Electrical Burns: A Retrospective Study at the Lebanese Burn Center in Geitaoui Hospital, Lebanon (2011–2024)

ABSTRACT

Electrical burns are among the most severe burn injuries, often leading to deep tissue damage, systemic complications, and prolonged hospitalisation. In Lebanon, limited national data on electrical burn injuries limits the understanding of their epidemiology and management. This study aims to assess the prevalence and characteristics of electrical burns in patients admitted to the specialised burn care unit in Geitaoui Hospital in Lebanon. A retrospective observational study was conducted by reviewing the medical records of patients admitted from 1st January 2011 to 31st December 2024. Data on demographics, burn characteristics, hospitalisation outcomes, infections, surgical interventions, and laboratory findings were extracted and analysed using SPSS version 26. Thirty patients were included, with a male predominance (96.7%) and the mean age was 29.6 years. Third-degree burns were observed in 70.0% of cases, and 66.7% of patients had burns affecting 10%–30% of their total body surface area. High-voltage injuries accounted for 50.0% of cases. Upper extremities were the most commonly affected site (93.3%). The mean hospital stay was 25.69 days, and the mortality rate was 10.0%. Infection was documented in 43.3% of cases. The most frequently isolated pathogens were Acinetobacter (20.0%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (16.7%). Surgical intervention was required in 63.3% of patients, most frequently skin grafting (36.7%). This study contributes national data on electrical burns and emphasises the importance of preventive and multidisciplinary care strategies.