Affiliations: Lightning Data Center, St. Anthony Hospital, 4231 W. 16th Avenue, Denver, CO 80204, USA. Tel.: +1 303 623 5800; Fax: +1 303 623 9071; E-mail: [email protected] | Lightning Data Center, St. Anthony Hospital, 4231 W. 16th Avenue, Denver, CO 80204, USA. Tel.: +1 303 629 4258; Fax: +1 303 629 4438; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: The most devastating casualties in lightning and electrical trauma patients are the result of lesions of the nervous system, and especially lesions of the brain. The brain injuries can be divided into three categories: global dysfunction; focal brain injuries; and behavioral-cognitive sequelae without gross physical signs. Lightning injuries are usually the result of outdoor sports and leisure activities. Most electrical trauma cases are the result of workplace accidents. Rehabilitation planning should begin early after the incident and often needs to be continued for a long time. The goal of the rehabilitation team is to maximize functional return in patients with deficits related to brain lesions. The neurorehabilitation team includes the neurorehabilitation physician, physical therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, speech therapists, and case managers.
Keywords: lightning, high-voltage electrical trauma, hypoxia following cardiac arrest, neurorehabilitation team
