Epidemiological-forensic analysis of electro cutions in Colombia during 2010-2014
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.16925/cf.v4i1.1737Keywords:
electrocutions, epidemiology, forensicAbstract
Introduction : This study allowed us to identify the characteristics of individuals electrocuted in Colombia in the period 2010-2014, both in sociodemographic variables and in the main findings during necropsy. Materials and methods: A descriptive, retrospective observational study was carried out with information obtained from the necropsy reports of the National Institute of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Sciences. Results and discussion: 899 cases of electrocution were analyzed; 92.8% were men, 52.4% of the people were working at the time of death, and 71.5% of the electrocuted individuals were from the urban area of Colombia. The mortality rates of the cities with the highest frequency of electrocutions in Colombia were determined and compared with the national rate. 63.4% of electrocutions were by high voltage and the sites of entry and exit of the current were deter mined, with a proportion of cases with extensive burn. A statistically significant association was found between voltage and skin findings; however, no association was found between voltage type and internal examination findings. Most of the deaths were accidental, while a case of homicide and a case of possible suicide were found. Conclusions: Deaths due to electrocution represent a hidden problem in many Colombian cities, with sociodemographic characteristics susceptible to prevention by the governmental bodies. The forensic expert must know the typical and atypical concepts and findings of electrocutions according to the context of facts, type of voltage and findings to make an appropriate approach to necropsy.
Author Biography
Alberto Tejada Valbuena, Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal y Ciencias Forenses
Profesional Especializado Forense
References
Vallejo Bolaños HJ. Caracterización de los casos de electrocuciones fatales atendidos por el Instituto
Nacional de Medicina Legal y Ciencias Forenses en Colombia entre enero y junio de 2007 [tesis de gra-
do]. [Bogotá:] Universidad Nacional de Colombia; 2007.
Hernández M, Julio C. Muertes por temperaturas extremas y electricidad. Bucaramanga: Ediciones
Universidad Industrial de Santander; 2008.
Blumenthal R. A retrospective descriptive study of electrocution deaths in Gauteng, South Africa:
-2004. Burns. 2009; 35(6):888-94.
Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal y Ciencias Forenses. Guía de Procedimientos para la realización
de necropsias médico-legales. 2.ª ed. Bogotá: Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal y Ciencias Forenses; 2004.
Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal y Ciencias Forenses. Forensis, Datos Para la Vida (años 2010,
, 2012, 2013 y 2014). Bogotá: Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal y Ciencias Forenses.
Mashreky SR, Hossain MJ, Biswas A. Epidemiology of electrical injury: Findings from a commu-
nity based national survey in Bangladesh. Injury. 2012;43(1):113-6.
Nagesh KR, Kanchan T, Rastogi P, Arun M. Arcing injuries in a fatal electrocution. Am J Forensic Med
Pathol. 2009;30(2):183-5.
Prahlow JA. Electrical deaths. In: Forensic pathology for police, death investigators, attorneys and fo-
rensic scientists. Indiana: Springer; 2010. p. 449-67.
Sheikhazadi A, Kiani M, Ghadyani M. Electrocution-related mortality. A survey of 295 deaths in
Tehran, Iran between 2002 and 2006. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2010;31(1):42-5.
Vargas AE. Lesiones por electricidad. Problemas médico-forenses (Curso virtual de formación a dis-
tancia, Máster en Medicina Forense, Universidad de Costa Rica).
Vargas AE. Trauma eléctrico. En: Medicina legal. 3.aed. México D.F.: Editorial Trillas; 2010. p. 230-3.
Vásquez Fanego, HO. Muertes por electricidad. En: Investigación médico-legal de la muerte. Tanatolo-
gía forense. Buenos Aires: Astrea; 2003. p. 248-57.
Wick R, Byard RW. Electrocution and the autopsy. Forensic Pathology Reviews. 2008;5:54-63.
Taylor AJ, McGwin G Jr, Brissie RM, Rue LW 3rd, Davies GG. Death during theft from electric utili-
ties. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2003;24(2):173-6.
Astuhuamán Canchaya D, Casan Jara KM, Carrera Palao RE, Aragonés Guevara SF, T[4] Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal y Ciencias Forenses. Guía de Procedimientos para la realización
de necropsias médico-legales. 2.ª ed. Bogotá: Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal y Ciencias Foren-
ses; 2004.
Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal y Ciencias Forenses. Forensis, Datos Para la Vida (años 2010,
, 2012, 2013 y 2014). Bogotá: Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal y Ciencias Forenses.
Mashreky SR, Hossain MJ, Biswas A. Epidemiology of electrical injury: Findings from a commu-
nity based national survey in Bangladesh. Injury. 2012;43(1):113-6.
Nagesh KR, Kanchan T, Rastogi P, Arun M. Arcing injuries in a fatal electrocution. Am J Forensic Med
Pathol. 2009;30(2):183-5.
Prahlow JA. Electrical deaths. In: Forensic pathology for police, death investigators, attorneys and fo-
rensic scientists. Indiana: Springer; 2010. p. 449-67.
Sheikhazadi A, Kiani M, Ghadyani M. Electrocution-related mortality. A survey of 295 deaths in
Tehran, Iran between 2002 and 2006. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2010;31(1):42-5.
Vargas AE. Lesiones por electricidad. Problemas médico-forenses (Curso virtual de formación a dis-
tancia, Máster en Medicina Forense, Universidad de Costa Rica).
Vargas AE. Trauma eléctrico. En: Medicina legal. 3.a ed. México D.F.: Editorial Trillas; 2010. p. 230-3.
Vásquez Fanego, HO. Muertes por electricidad. En: Investigación médico-legal de la muerte. Tanatolo-
gía forense. Buenos Aires: Astrea; 2003. p. 248-57.
Wick R, Byard RW. Electrocution and the autopsy. Forensic Pathology Reviews. 2008;5:54-63.
Taylor AJ, McGwin G Jr, Brissie RM, Rue LW 3rd, Davies GG. Death during theft from electric utili-
ties. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 2003;24(2):173-6.
Astuhuamán Canchaya D, Casan Jara KM, Carrera Palao RE, Aragonés Guevara SF, Tejada Valdivia
CA. Correlación macroscópica-microscópica en muertes por electrocución: Morgue Central de Lima
periodo 2006-2011. An Fac Med. 2014;75(1):31-5.
Kumar S, Verna AK, Shankar Singh U. Electrocution-related mortality in northern India – A 5-year
retrospective study. Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences. 2014;4(1):1-6.ejada Valdivia CA. Correlación macroscópica-microscópica en muertes por electrocución: Morgue Central de Lima periodo 2006-2011. An Fac Med. 2014;75(1):31-5.
Kumar S, Verna AK, Shankar Singh U. Electrocution-related mortality in northern India – A 5-year
retrospective study. Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences. 2014;4(1):1-6.
