Histomorphological changes of skin in electrocution deaths - A study in a tertiary care hospital

Abstract

Electrocution deaths (EDs) is one of the important causes of negative autopsy with no gross pathological findings in almost half of all cases. The history surrounding the cause of death and circumstantial evidence is sometimes ambiguous and poses great difficulty. Hence, this need to be coupled with histopathological examination to arrive at the diagnosis.: Retrospective study was conducted with entry and exit wound of skin samples among 17 cases of EDs Total- 46 skin samples. Corresponding normal skin was used as control. The histomorphological changes of skin were noted in both entry and exit wound separately and its association with electrical voltage was studied and statistically analysed.: The maximum EDs were due to high voltage (47.06%) at the workplace (70.5%) and were accidental in nature (100%) predominantly affecting males (88.24%). Upper extremity was the chief area of wounding (51.7%). Most common gross abnormality was ulcer/crater (82%) in entry wound followed by bulla formation (70%). Commonly exit wound showed splits in skin (75%). The most common histopathological finding in entry as well as exit wound was dermoepidermal separation (88%, 75%), coagulative necrosis of epidermis (82%, 66%) and nuclear streaming (76%, 50%) respectively. : Histopathological changes in skin give the supportive evidence in determining the cause of death especially in case of negative autopsy. The important microscopic features of electrocution are dermoepidermal separation, coagulative necrosis, and nuclear streaming.