Which injury is LEAST likely to be associated with a lightning strike?

Deep and extensive thermal burns are the least likely injury associated with a lightning strike due to the nature of the electrical discharge. Lightning strikes primarily cause injuries through high voltage and current, which can lead to a variety of injuries that are not necessarily thermal in nature.

While lightning can indeed create superficial burns or injuries that might be considered thermal, the intense energy is more likely to affect the body by creating a path of electrical conduction. This includes injuries to the nervous system, disruption of cardiac rhythms, or blunt trauma from the force of the strike itself, which can lead to being propelled or knocked down.

In contrast, the type of burns caused by lightning are generally more likely to be flash burns rather than deep tissue burns, as the duration of the strike is extremely brief. Therefore, while some degree of thermal injury can occur, the likelihood of deep and extensive thermal burns is relatively low compared to other potential injuries from lightning strikes.