Neurorehabilitation of Devastating Lightning-Strike Injuries Explored

Newswise — Lightning is a leading cause of weather-related injuries in the United States, responsible for nearly 10,000 reported casualties between 1959 and 1994, with as many as 10,000 additional injuries that went unreported. A special issue of the peer-reviewed journal NeuroRehabilitation, published in advance of National Lightning Safety Awareness Week (June 19-25), explores the physiologic effects of lightning on the human body and the paths to rehabilitation from these often devastating injuries.

Special Guest Editor of this issue, Dr. Michael Cherington of the Lightning Data Center of St. Anthony Hospital, Denver, CO, USA, selected leading experts to survey these fascinating topics, which have previously had little coverage in the medical literature.

Dr. Cherington's editorial emphasizes the complicated nature of, and treatment for these multifaceted injuries. He cautions that, "In recent years, there have been significant advances in the arenas of trauma and rehabilitation that can apply to the management of lightning and electrical injuries….While rehabilitation is often very helpful in restoring function in many patients, there is no question that patients would be much better if they took steps to avoid becoming a casualty….People should be familiar with lightning safety recommendations and take prudent precautions to reduce their risks. It is imperative that adults in charge of children (teachers, coaches, lifeguards, etc.) know how to implement lightning safety guidelines."

Lightning strikes can cause a wide range of symptoms, from short-lived, benign effects to essentially irreversible injuries that can destroy the quality of life for the victim. In the lead article, Dr, Cherington describes the classification system of injuries, including clinical features found only in lightning-strike patients. Contributions by Daniel P. Lammertse, Philip R. Yarnell and Margaret Primeau address neurorehabilitation, while a paper by Gennaro Selvaggi et al discusses rehabilitation for the severe burns that occur in lightning strikes and electrical injuries.

Mary Ann Cooper and Steve Marshburn write of an organization of nearly 1300 survivors, family members, and health professionals (Lightning Strike and Electric Shock Survivors International) who provide support and share common experiences.

These and other papers on Lightning and Electrical Injuries appear in a special issue of NeuroRehabilitation, Volume 20, Numbers 1/2, published by IOS Press.

NeuroRehabilitation (Volume 20, Numbers 1/2)
Special Issue: Lightning and Electrical Injuries
Table of Contents:

Neurorehabilitation of the multifaceted and complicated neurologic problems associated with lightning and electrical injuries
Michael Cherington

Spectrum of neurologic complications of lightning injuries
Michael Cherington

Neurorehabilitation of spinal cord injuries following lightning and electrical trauma
Daniel P. Lammertse

Neurorehabilitation of cerebral disorders following lightning and electrical trauma
Philip R. Yarnell

Autonomic nervous system dysfunction in lightning and electrical injuries
Wolfgang H. Jost, Lisa M. Schönrock, Michael Cherington

Neurorehabilitation of behavioral disorders following lightning and electrical trauma
Margaret Primeau

Rehabilitation of burn injured patients following lightning and electrical trauma
Gennaro Selvaggi, Stan Monstrey, Koen Van Landuyt, Moustapha Hamdi, Phillip Blondeel

Lightning Strike and Electric Shock Survivors International
Mary Ann Cooper and Steve Marshburn

Roadblocks to return to work after electrical trauma
M. Capelli-Schellpfeffer

Biophysical injury mechanisms associated with lightning injury
Martin Bier, Wei Chen, Elena Bodnar, Raphael C. Lee

About NeuroRehabilitation
NeuroRehabilitation is an international multidisciplinary journal that publishes scientifically-based, practical information relevant to all aspects of neurologic rehabilitation. Articles cover the full lifespan and range of neurologic disabilities including stroke, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, neuromuscular disease and other neurological disorders.

About IOS Press
Commencing its publishing activities in 1987, IOS Press (http://www.iospress.com) is a rapidly expanding scientific, technical, medical and professional publishing house focusing on a broad range of subject areas. Headquartered in Amsterdam, IOS Press publishes approximately 100 new books per annum and 70 international journals, covering topics ranging from computer science and mathematics to medicine and the natural sciences. Electronic access to all journals is now available. IOS Press also maintains offices in the Washington, DC area and Berlin and a co-publishing relationship with Ohmsha, Ltd (Tokyo).