burns Flashcards
what is a burn?
tissue damage and cell death caused by intense heat, electricity, UV radiation, chemicals
what can UV radiation cause?
causes DNA to alter over time resulting in genetic conditions
what are the 3 types of burns?
- 1st degree burn
- 2nd degree burn
- 3rd degree burn
where layer of the skin does a 1st degree burn damage?
only epidermis
how long does it take for a 1st degree burn to heal and why?
2-3 days due to regeneration
where layer of the skin does a 2nd degree burn damage?
epidermis and upper dermis
what is the unique thing that results when having a 2nd degree burn?
blisters
what are blisters from 2nd degree burns?
separation of epidermis from dermis
what are 1st and 2nd degree burns also called?
partial thickness burns
where layer of the skin does a 3rd degree burn damage?
epidermis and dermis
why is there no pain with 3rd degree burns?
nerve endings are destroyed
is regeneration possible, if no what is the solution to 3rd degree burns?
regeneration is not possible, only fixed by skin grafting
what are 3rd degree burns also caleld?
full thickness burns
what does fluid & electrolyte imbalance of burns lead to?
dehydration leads to shutdown of kidneys and circulatory shock
what is circulatory shock?
low blood volume leads to low oxygen levels
what does infection of the burns lead to?
bacteria & fungi invade dead tissue and the depressed immune system can’t fight due to shock
what are the 3 reasons burns are critical?
- if a 2nd degree burn is over 25% of the body
- if a 3rd degree burn is over 10% of the body
- if there are 3rd degree burns to the hands, face, feet
why are facial burns dangerous?
the burn can affect the respiratory passageway which can swell and cause suffocation
what is the solution to fluid & electrolyte imabalance?
put in an IV
what is the debridement of eschar?
removal of dead skin by doing a skin graft
what does debridement mean?
the removal of damaged tissue from a wound
what is a skin graft?
taking healthy skin from another part of the body to stitch it onto the damaged skin
what is the rule of nines?
percentage of burns on the body
what is anterior?
front
what is posterior?
back
what is the percentage of the anterior and posterior head and neck based on the rule of nines?
9%
what is the percentage of the anterior and posterior upper limbs based on the rule of nines?
18% total, 4.5% per limb on the front/back
what is the percentage of the anterior and posterior trunk based on the rule of nines?
36% total, 18% on front/back
what is the percentage of the anterior and posterior perineum based on the rule of nines?
1%
what is the percentage of the anterior and posterior lower limbs based on the rule of nines?
36% total, 9% per limb on front/back
