BURN

Question 1

Tissue damage caused by exposure to excessive heat.

Answer 1

BURNS

Question 2

4 Types of burns by etiology:

Answer 2

1. Thermal Burns
- Dry heat – flames, hot objects
- Moist heat – hot liquids, steam

2. Chemical Burns – Acids, alkali
3. Electrical Burns– Electric current
4. Radiation Burns – Ionizing radiation e.g., nuclear energy, radiation therapy

Question 3

Immediate initial cause of cell damage

Answer 3

HEAT

Question 4

• Epidermis is the only part injured;
• desquamation occurs for 2-3 days after the burn & heals in 3-5 days without a scar or complications
• e.g., sunburn, short (flash) exposure to a high intensity heat

Answer 4

Superficial-thickness wounds

Question 5

entire epidermis & varying depths of the dermis

Answer 5

Partial-thickness wound

Question 6

There is involvement of the upper 3rd of the dermis leaving a good blood supply; wounds are red, moist & blanch (whiten) when pressure is applied

Blister formation (leakage of large amount of plasma from the injured small vessels lifting off the destroyed epidermis)

Intense pain due to exposed nerve endings especially when stimulated by touch & temperature changes

with standard care, heals in 10-21 days with no scar, but some minor pigment changes may occur

Answer 6

Superficial partial-thickness wound

Question 7

wounds that extend deeper into the skin, dermis and fewer healthy cells remain; wounds are red & dry (because fewer BV are patent) with white areas in
deeper parts

due to ischemia, hypoxia & even infection it can progress to full-thickness wounds

No Blister formation because dead tissue layer is so thick & sticks to underlying viable dermis that it does not readily lift off the surface

**No pain. nerve endings have been destroyed, **moderate edema is present

generally heals in 3-6 weeks with scar formation

Answer 7

Deep partial-thickness wound

Question 8

destruction of the entire epidermis & dermis, leaving no residual epidermal cells to repopulate; wound may be waxy, white, deep red, yellow, brown or black, hard,
dry, leathery eschar (burn crust)

[eschar is a dead tissue; it must slough off or be removed from the burn wound before healing can occur]

avascular, no sensation, healing can take from weeks to months depending on the establishment of a good blood supply to the injured areas

Answer 8

Full-thickness wound

Question 9

• wounds that extend beyond the skin into underlying fascia & tissues
• damages the muscle, bone, and tendons & leave them exposed
• wound is blackened and depressed, and sensation is completely absent

Answer 9

Deep full-thickness wound

Question 10

Removal of necrotic tissue

Answer 10

Debridement

Question 11

Necessary for deep partial-thickness & full-thickness burns
- Purpose:
* Lessen the potential for infection
* Minimize fluid loss by evaporation
* Hasten recovery
* Reduced scarring
* Prevent loss of function

Answer 11

Skin grafting

Question 12

client’s own skin

Answer 12

**Autograft **

Question 13

from a human cadaver
- Temporarily covers large areas of tissue (slough away approx 1 week)
- Short supply; it could be a source of other
pathogen

Answer 13

**Allograft or homograft **

Question 14

from animals
- Temporary
- Rejected in days to weeks & must be removed & replaced at that time

Answer 14

Heterograft or xenograft