Amputation of Penis Due To Electrocution- A Case Report
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37506/mlu.v20i3.1401Keywords:
Electricity, Electric current, Electric burn injuries, Electrocution, Penile trauma, Amputation of penis.Abstract
Electricity is an integral part of modern society. Without electricity the existence of human life seems
difficult, but it has the capacity to stand life and destroyed the life up to the death. The most fatalities caused
due to electricity are accidental and result from passage of an electric current [both low & high voltage]
through the body. Penile trauma presents a difficult physical and psychological problem and is rare. The
causes of penile trauma are varied; it can be iatrogenic or caused by traffic accidents, thermal and electric
burns, ritual circumcision, animal bites, gunshots or self?mutilation. The type and extent of penile trauma
varies from mild to severe injuries, sometimes even with total amputation.
In the present case, a 24 year old young male from Palwal (Haryana) sustained electric burn injuries while
he was standing in the balcony and came in contact with high voltage electric wires passing in front of the
balcony. He was admitted in Safdarjung hospital, Delhi and expired on the same day. During autopsy electric
contact burn marks were present on unusual sites of the body like head, neck, abdomen, pubic region and
root of penis with amputation of penis. Electric flash burns were also present on different parts of the body
along with fracture of cervical vertebra.
