The moist and highly vascular lip mucosa offers very little resistance to electric current. 6 Children with electric burns should have a thorough systemic evaluation. If the subject is well grounded the current may flow through the body and cause cardiac arrhythmias. Renal injury may result from direct damage or through myoglobinuria caused by breakdown products at the site of injury. Neurologic damage may involve peripheral nerves.
Cerebral damage can become evident as long as two years later.
The pool of saliva in the labial sulcus or the moist mucosa act as a conductor for the electric current. The tissue injury results from direct thermal changes at the entrance and exit site. These burns are usually full thickness burns involving deep muscle destruction. The damage to the nerve tissue frequently causes anesthesia or paresthesia. 9 Blood vessels are cauterized and little or no hemorrhage is present.