Burn Types and Classification Flashcards
thermal burn
- caused by conduction or convection
- contact with hot liquid, fire, or steam
electrical burn
- caused by the passage of electrical current through the body
- usually has a entrance and an exit wound
- complications include cardiac arrhythmias, respiratory arrest, renal failure, neurological damage, and fractures,
- example is lightening strike
chemical burn
- certain chemical compounds come in contact with the body
- reaction with continue until the chemical compound is diluted at the site of contact
- examples are sulfuric acid, lye, hydrochloric acid, and gasoline
radiation burn
- exposure to beam radiation therapy
- DNA is altered in exposed tissues and ischemic injury may be irreversible
- complications may include severe blistering and desquamation, non-healing wounds, tissue fibrosis, permanent discoloration, and new malignancies
zone of coagulation
the area of the burn that received the most severe injury with irreversible cell damage
zone of stasis
the area of less severe injury that possesses reversible damage the surrounds the zone of coagulation
zone of hyperemia
area surrounding the zone of stasis that presents with inflammation, but will fully recover without any intervention or permanent damage
superficial burn
- involves only the outer epidermis
- may be red with slight edema
- healing occurs without peeling or evidence of scarring in two to five days
superficial partial-thickness burn
- involves the epidermis and the upper portion of the dermis
- may be extremely painful and exhibit blisters
- healing occurs with minimal to no scarring in 5-21 days
deep partial thickness burn
- involves complete destruction of the epidermis and the majority of the dermis
- involved area may appear to be discolored with broken blisters and edema
- damage to nerve endings may result in only moderate levels of pain
- hypertrophic or keloid scarring may occur
- in the absence of infection, healing will occur in 21 to 35 days
Full-thickness burn
- involves complete destruction of the epidermis and dermis along with partial damage to the subcutaneous fat layers
- involved layer typically presents with eschar formation and minimal pain
- requires grafts and is susceptible to infection
- healing time varies with small areas healing in weeks and larger areas taking months
subdermal burn
- involves the complete destruction of the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue
- subdermal burns may involve muscle and bone and as a result requires surgical interventions and extensive healing times
silver sulfadiazine advantages
- can be used with or without dressings
- painless
- can be applied directly to wound
- broad spectrum
- effective against yeast
silver sulfadiazine disadvantages
- does not penetrate into eschar
silver nitrate advantages
- broad spectrum
- non allergenic
- dressing application is painless
silver nitrate disadvantages
- poor penetration
- discolors, making assessment difficult
- can cause severe electrolyte imbalance
- removal of dressings is painful
povidone iodine advantages
- broad spectrum
- antifungal
- easily removed with water
povidone iodine disadvantages
- not effective against pseudomonas
- may impair thyroid function
- painful application
mafenide acetate advantages
- broad spectrum
- penetrates burn eschar
- may be used with or without occlusive dressings
mafenide acetate disadvantages
- may cause metabolic acidosis
- may compromise respiratory function
- may inhibit epithelialization
- painful application
gentamicin advantages
- broad-spectrum
- may be covered or left open to air
gentamicin disadvantages
- has caused resistant strains
- ototoxic
- nephrotoxic
nitrofurazone advantages
- bacteriocidal
- broad-spectrum
nitrofurazone disadvantages
- may lead to overgrowth of fungus and pseudomonas
- painful application
