Death Due to Fractal Wood Burning: An Emerging Public Health Problem

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 788-790
Author(s):  
Harold Campbell ◽  
Rabia Nizamani ◽  
Samuel W Jones ◽  
Felicia N Williams
Keyword(s):  
Upper Extremity ◽  
High Voltage ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Online News ◽  
Voltage Transformer ◽  
News Reports ◽  
Airway Injury ◽  
Wood Burning ◽  
Wood Art ◽  
Electrical Injuries

Abstract The art of pyrography, burning designs in wood, dates back to prehistory. Risks of traditional techniques included cutaneous burns and airway injury. Fractal wood burning is a niche technique using a high-voltage electrical source to burn branched designs into wood. While this technique has grown in popularity, the associated risks are not well understood. We describe a patient who presented to our burn center after sustaining high-voltage electrical injuries while making fractal wood art using an improvised a high-voltage transformer. During the wood-burning process, he contacted the electrodes and suffered full-thickness electrical burns to the neck, chest, and bilateral upper extremities. Bilateral upper extremity fasciotomies were performed on admission. Multiple subsequent operations culminated with autografting to most of the wounds and complex reconstruction of the left thumb. In evaluating online news reports, we found 25 unique individuals with death or injury attributed to fractal wood burning from July 2016 to January 2020. Five sustained substantial injuries, while 20 reportedly died. Ages ranged from 17 years old to the 60s. One death and one injury occurred in females, with the remainder of reports involving males. Of the survivors, four sustained significant upper extremity electrical injuries and three suffered cardiac arrest at the time of injury. Fractal wood burning is associated with devastating high-voltage electrical injuries and death. Prevention efforts should be focused on education about the potential for death and permanently disabling injuries from this art form.

625 Death Due to Fractal Wood Burning: An Emerging Public Health Problem

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S158-S158
Author(s):  
Harold Campbell ◽  
Rabia Nizamani ◽  
Samuel W Jones ◽  
Bruce Cairns ◽  
Felicia N Williams
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Upper Extremity ◽  
High Voltage ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Online News ◽  
Voltage Transformer ◽  
News Reports ◽  
Burn Center ◽  
Electrical Burns

Abstract Introduction The art of pyrography, creating designs in wood with a thermal heat source, dates back to prehistory. Risks include cutaneous burns and airway injury. Fractal woodburning is a niche method of pyrography utilizing a high-voltage electrical source to burn branched designs – Lichtenberg patterns – into the surface of wood. While this technique has grown in popularity, the associated risks are not well described. Methods We describe a patient who presented to our burn center after sustaining high-voltage electrical burns from a homemade high-voltage device constructed for fractal woodburning. We also evaluated publicly reported cases of death or injury due to this technique. Results An otherwise healthy 17-year-old male was admitted to our burn center with injuries sustained while making fractal wood art. The patient improvised a high-voltage transformer from a discarded microwave, generating 2000 volts from household current. While using this device to burn Lichtenberg patterns in wood, he contacted the electrodes and sustained full-thickness electrical burns to the neck, chest, and bilateral upper extremities. Bilateral upper extremity fasciotomies were required on admission. Multiple subsequent operative procedures culminated with autografting to the majority of the wounds and ongoing complex reconstruction of the left thumb. In evaluating online news reports, we found 21 unique individuals with death or injury attributed to fractal woodburning. Four sustained substantial injuries, while 17 reportedly died. The first reported incident occurred in July 2016 and the most recent report was from July 2019. Ages ranged from 17 years old to the 60s. Eighteen individuals were younger than 50 years old. All of the mortalities and 3 of the 4 injuries occurred in males. Of the survivors, 3 sustained significant upper extremity injuries and 2 suffered cardiac arrest at the time of injury. The devices used in 4 incidents were microwave transformers and generated 2000 volts. Device characteristics were not identified in the remainder of cases. Conclusions Fractal woodburning is associated with devastating high-voltage electrical injuries and death. Prevention efforts should be focused on the potential risks of this art form. Applicability of Research to Practice News reports likely underestimate the actual incidence of injury and death due to fractal woodburning, however, even this limited data suggests an emerging public health problem requiring further study and public education.

857 Reconstruction of the Pediatric Upper Extremity Following High Voltage Electrical Burn Injury

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S266-S267
Author(s):  
Matthew A Depamphilis ◽  
Ryan Cauley ◽  
Farzin Sadeq ◽  
Robert Sheridan ◽  
Daniel N Driscoll
Keyword(s):  
Upper Extremity ◽  
High Voltage ◽  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Burn Injury ◽  
Multidisciplinary Treatment ◽  
Small Surface ◽  
Term Function ◽  
Electrical Burns ◽  
Electrical Injuries

Abstract Introduction High voltage electrical burns are often associated with significant morbidity, posing great acute and delayed reconstructive challenges for plastic surgeons. As survival from these injuries increases, attention has been focused on improving quality of life post burn injury through restoration of sensory and motor function. However, due to the complexity of the upper extremity and its small surface area in pediatric patients, its reconstruction can be a very complex endeavor. Especially in pediatric patients that are still growing, ensuing great risk for upper extremity contracture and deformity. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted on patients aged 0–18 years admitted to our institution with a high voltage electrical burn involving the upper extremity. The timeframe under study was 13 years from January 1st 2005 to December 1st 2018. This project was undertaken at our institution as an exempt project under 45 CFR 46.101 and, as such, it was not formally supervised by an Institutional Review Board. Results Out of the 68 electrical burns treated at our pediatric burn center, 58 involved the upper extremity. This further divides into 37 patients with high voltage and 31 patients with low voltage upper extremity electric burns. Of the 37 high voltage upper extremity patients, 35 underwent acute surgical management and 18 had delayed surgical reconstruction for the upper extremity. Conclusions The reconstructive techniques employed at our institution following severe electrical injuries typically follow a reconstructive ladder. The majority of chronic contractures in our series were successfully treated with either minimally invasive techniques such as laser and steroid infiltration, local tissue flaps, or release and skin grafting. Applicability of Research to Practice Multidisciplinary treatment of severe electrical injuries to the upper extremity is vital to optimizing a patient’s long-term function. Given the significant depth of injury in cases of electrical burns to the upper extremity the risk of developing contractures is relatively high. The expeditious treatment of secondary contractures is important to maximize a patient’s long-term function. The general treatment of contractures of the upper extremity should be based on the location and severity of the contracture, with considerations made for the patient’s reconstructive goals.

Use of the Pedicled Tensor Fascia Lata Myocutaneous Flap in the Salvage of Upper Extremity High-Voltage Electrical Injuries

2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 670-673 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grant Fankhauser ◽  
Aaron Klomp ◽  
Anthony Smith ◽  
Alanna Rececca ◽  
William Casey
Keyword(s):  
Upper Extremity ◽  
High Voltage ◽  
Myocutaneous Flap ◽  
Fascia Lata ◽  
Tensor Fascia Lata ◽  
Electrical Injuries

ICERD in Malaysian online news reports: A cross-linguistic comparative corpus analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 51
Author(s):  
Siti Aeisha Joharry ◽  
Nor Diyana Saupi
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Public Discourse ◽  
Online News ◽  
Corpus Analysis ◽  
Search Term ◽  
International Convention ◽  
Online Newspapers ◽  
News Reports ◽  
The Media ◽  
Online Sources

The International Convention for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), which was not ratified in Malaysia, created a heated public discourse in the media. This cross-linguistic comparative study investigates the representation of ICERD in Malaysian news reports of two online sources in Malaysia – the widely read English portal: The Star Online, and its Malay equivalent: Berita Harian. A corpus-assisted discourse analysis was conducted to examine how news on ‘ICERD’ were reported in both English and Malay online newspapers. Initial comparative analysis of both newspapers revealed that the search term co-occurs statistically more frequently with the verb ‘ratify’ and its equivalent: ‘meratifikasi’. Patterns indicate that ‘ICERD’ was mostly referring to the act of sanctioning the agreement –particularly to ‘not ratify’ or ‘tidak akan meratifikasi’, which is concurrent with the timeframe of events. Interestingly, different patterns can be found in Berita Harian (e.g. the expression of ‘thanks’ or gratitude of not ratifying ICERD) that are not as revealing in The Star Online reports. Some inconsistencies were also reported between the two newspapers, e.g. referring to different ministers’ speech about the initial plan to ratify ICERD alongside five (The Star Online) or six (Berita Harian) other treaties in the following year.  

561 Bilateral Upper Extremity Amputation After High Voltage Electrical Injury: A Case Report

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S130-S131
Author(s):  
Andrew Khalifa ◽  
Anzar Sarfraz ◽  
Jacob B Avraham ◽  
Ronnie Archie ◽  
Matthew Kaminsky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Report ◽  
High Voltage ◽  
Troponin I ◽  
Low Voltage ◽  
Foley Catheter ◽  
The United States ◽  
Upper Extremities ◽  
Full Thickness ◽  
Electrical Injuries

Abstract Introduction Electrical injuries represent 0.4–3.2% of admissions to burn units and are responsible for >500 deaths per year in the United States. Approximately half occur in the workplace and are the fourth leading cause of work-related-traumatic death. The extent of injury can be drastically underestimated by total body surface area percentage (TBSA). Along with cutaneous burns, high voltage electrical injuries can lead to necrosis of muscle, bone, nervous tissue, and blood vessels. Aggressive management allows for patient survival, but at significant cost. Newer technologic advances help improve functional outcomes. Methods This case-report was conducted via retrospective chart review of the case presented. Results A 43-year-old male sustained a HVEI (>10, 000 V) after contacting an active wire while working as a linesman for an electric company. He presented after less than 15-minute transport from an outside hospital with full thickness burns and auto-amputation to all fingers on both hands and the distal third of the left hand (Images 1 and 2). There were full thickness circumferential burns to the entire left and right upper extremities with contractures, with the burns extending into the axilla, and chest wall musculature. The patient had 4th degree burns and a large wound to the left shoulder with posterior extension to the scapula, flank and back with approximately 25% TBSA (Image 3). Compartments were tense in both upper extremities. Patient was sedated and intubated to protect the airway and placed on mechanical ventilation. A femoral central line was then placed, and the patient was given pain control, continued fluid resuscitation, and blood products. Dark red colored urine from a foley catheter that was immediately identified as rhabdomyolysis induced myoglobinuria. Labs drawn demonstrated elevated troponin I, CK >40,000. BUN 18, creatinine 1.0, K+ 5.2 and phosphate 5.6. Decision was made immediately for operative intervention with emergent amputation of both upper extremities in the light of rhabdomyolysis secondary to tissue necrosis and oliguria. During the patient’s hospital course, he underwent multiple operations for further debridement with vacuum-assisted closure therapy and skin grafting of sites, as well as targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) 6 months later at an outside hospital. Conclusions Although HVEI only account for a small percentage of burn admissions, they are associated with greater morbidity than low-voltage injuries. Patients with HVEI often incur multiple injuries, more surgical procedures, have higher rates of complications, and more long term psychological and rehabilitative difficulties. Despite the need for amputation in some of these critically ill patients, options exist that allow for them to obtain long term functional success.

Narrative transparency and credibility: First–person process statements in video news

2021 ◽  
pp. 135485652110278
Author(s):  
Mary Angela Bock ◽  
Allison Lazard
Keyword(s):  
Online News ◽  
First Person ◽  
Ethical Imperative ◽  
News Reports ◽  
Distinct Variable ◽  
Audience Effects ◽  
News Organizations ◽  
Reporting Process ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Way

Journalism critics have argued that transparency about the reporting process is an ethical imperative. Convergence offers news organizations opportunities for changed writing styles that may foster more transparency, especially as they embrace video storytelling. This project used two experiments to investigate the impact of transparent language on the way online news consumers perceive the credibility of video news reports. The study operationalized transparency in narrative as the use of first-person statements and references to the newsgathering process. Subjects noticed transparency statements but this had no significant effect on their assessment of the credibility of a story or reporter. The results suggest that transparency is a distinct variable with a complicated relationship to other audience effects.

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