Put Your Lights On: Electrocution As a Cause of an Unexplained Fall and Loss of Consciousness

Authors

• Magdalena Grzesiek Klinik für Innere Medizin, Klinik Hallerwiese, Nuremberg, Germany
• Christina Ellmann Klinik für Innere Medizin 4, Klinikum Nürnberg, Nuremberg, Germany
• Tilmann Ditting Klinik für Innere Medizin 4, Klinikum Nürnberg, Nuremberg, Germany

magdalena.grzesiek@googlemail.com

Keywords

Abstract

Electrical accidents are not reported very frequently, and may occur undetected as the signs are often manifold and not very specific. We report the case of a 43-year-old woman admitted to hospital due to a fall of unclear cause, with loss of consciousness, partial amnesia, paresis of both legs and crush syndrome. Only by thorough and repeated history-taking, and a careful physical examination that revealed burns typical of electrical current injuries, was the case resolved. With this case presentation, we would like to make the reader aware of electrocution as a possible cause of bruises and unconsciousness of unclear origin.