OBJECTIVETo evaluate the diagnostic value of the changes in serum CK and its isozymes in the muscular infection and necrosis in electrical injured patients.

METHODSSeventeen patients were divided into A and B groups according to the causes, i.e. electrical injury as A and electrical arc flame burn as B groups. Obvious muscle necrosis was identified in A but not in B groups. The serum CK-MM concentration was determined after injury, before and after the operations. Simultaneously, the blood and urine routine, the hepatic and renal function and wound bacterial counting were determined and compared with those in 20 healthy people.

RESULTS1. The serum CK-MM in A group increased evidently after injury and 1 day after wound debridement to the 6 times that in normal control. The enzyme decreased to normal at 3 post-operative days in 15 cases and remained at relative high level in 2 cases due to the wound infection and lowered down to normal level after wound re-debridement. 2. The serum CK-MM in B group increased slightly before and after skin grafting.

CONCLUSIONCK-MM could be employed as the index for the infection and necrosis of the muscle in electrical injured patients due to its high specificity and sensitivity.