Burns

Question 1

What are burns?

Answer 1

Coagulative necrosis of the skin, with or without underlining tissue as a result of energy transfer.

This energy can be in form of heat, chemical reaction, radiation and electricity, frost etc.

Question 2

What are the most common cause of burn injury in the civilian population?

Answer 2

Scald (hot fluid) burns

Question 3

What is the the depth of scald burn determines by?
Difference between scals burns and greae/oil burns?

Answer 3

• Determined by the temperature of the liquid,
• The duration of exposure to the liquid,
• The viscosity of the liquid (there is usually prolonged contact

Scald burns heal spontaneously
Grease/oil burns, tend to result in deeper dermal burn

Question 4

Discuss flame burns

Answer 4

Flame burns 2nd
House fires, campfires, and the burning of leaves or trash.
Flash burns are quite common as well
ignition of propane or gasoline.
Injuries involves exposed skin (most commonly face and extremities)
Result in partial thickness burns.

Question 5

Types of burns

Answer 5

1. Scald burns
2. Grease/oil burns
3. Flame burns
4. Contact burns
5. Electrical and chemical burns

Question 6

Discuss contact burns?

Answer 6

Woodstoves, hot metals, plastics, or coals.
Contact burns are usually deep but limited in extent of body surface area injure

Question 7

What is the immersion time to produce full thickness burns of temperature:
70 degrees celcius
65.5 degrees celcius
60 degrees celcius
54 degrees celcius
52 degrees celcius
49 degrees celcius

Answer 7

70 - 1 sec
65.5 - 2 secs
60 - 19 secs
54 - 30 secs
52 - 60 secs
49 - 10 minutes

Question 8

Unique features of burn patients

Answer 8

Burn patients are cared for in a specialised ward (burn unit) or specialised centres (burn centre)

Burn patients are trauma patients
Atls protocol> airway, breathing, and circulation must be assessed immediately following a burn injury.

Particularly life-threatening injuries— requires exclusion.

Question 9

3