Abstract
Electrocution results when a human is exposed to a lethal amount of electrical energy. Electrocution is the cause of death for approximately 1000 people in the United States every year. In Sri Lanka common causes for injuries due to electrocution include use of defective electrical appliances, faulty wiring, failure to take safety precautions and installations of unauthorized connections from high tension lines. In this case the diseased was a 48 year-old farmer from a rural area in Galle district. On this particular day, the diseased left home around 9.00 p.m. to go to his paddy field and did not return. The next morning, he was found lying unresponsive on a tea estate near his paddy field. At the post-mortem examination, multiple 2nd degree burns were found on the front aspect of the right upper thigh, back of the middle third of the right forearm, front of the upper third of the left leg and between the base of right thumb and index finger. Ruptured blister was present on the back aspect of the thumb over the metarcarpo-phalangeal joint. Musculo-skeletal dissection revealed charred subcutaneous tissues and superficial layers of the muscles underline the above-mentioned injuries. No deep contusions or fractures were seen. The cause of death was electrocution. This was an unfortunate case of accidental electrocution of a farmer due to application of an unauthorized power line to trap wild animals. The most likely mechanism of death was ventricular fibrillation. A detailed history regarding the incident, scene visit and proper postmortem examination with the histological and toxicological analysis are recommended prior to concluding the cause of death as electrocution.
Highlights
Electricity is an important energy source for our modern society
Electrocution results when a human is exposed to a lethal amount of electrical energy
According to a study done in Australia, in 2014 to 2016 period, almost 1,100 hospitalized cases were identified as having an electrical injury and during the same period, there were 55 deaths due to electrocution.[3]
Summary
Electricity is an important energy source for our modern society. Electrical burns are responsible for considerable amount of morbidity and mortality. Case report The diseased was a 48-year-old farmer from a rural area of Galle district He lived with his family one kilometer away from the Yakkalamulla junction. His paddy field was situated about half a kilometer away from his house and he walk that distance every day through a foot path going over a tea estate owned by neighbors He used to leave home at night to protect his paddy field from animals’ like. An elongated crater with a patterned burnt and blackened base and elevated margins, was seen on the front of the upper third of the left leg. After considering the evidence from history, scene visit and circumstantial evidence, autopsy examination and investigations, the course of death was given as electrocution
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
