Burns Flashcards
What are the 3 general causes of burns?
- Chemical
- Thermal
- Electrical
A thermal burn is classified as direct or indirect contact with flame, hot liquid or steam the severity of the burn is influenced by 3 factors which are:
- Contact time
- Temperature
- Type of insult
A chemical burn can be due to acids, bases, industrial accidents or assaults. These types of burns are more likely to cause what type of damage and how is severity of the burn influenced?
More likely to cause full thickness damage (alkali more severe)
Severity dependent on
1. Contact time: burning continues until substance is diluted or removed. Need to thoroughly irrigate for 20-30 min
2. Chemical concentration
3. Amount of chemical
For a chemical burn irrigation should be done for how long?
20-30 min
Electrical burns can occur with low and high voltage currents. Severity is influenced by
- High volt currents cause more damage and AC burns injuries are more severe
- Also dependent on contact time
T/F with electrical burns skin may not be severely damaged despite deep tissue injury due to the differences in resistance.
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If a partial thickness burn becomes infected what can happen?
it can convert from partial -thickness to full thickness
Chemical burns can take ____hours to develop
24-72 hours
Describe 5 key characterisitics of Superficial Burns aka first degree
- Involves ONLY the epidermis
- Dry, bright red/pink skin that blanches upon pressure
- Resolves within 3-5 days without scarring
- Skin may peel
- Skin barrier function is maintained
- Blistering is not present
ex: sunburns, minor flash burns
Describe key 5 characteristics of Superficial part-thickness burns aka superficial 2nd degree
- Involves the epidermis and papillary dermis
- Blistering
- local erythema and edema
- Blanchable, refill is immediate
- heal within 10-14 days, common after closure to have itching and hypersentivitiy
Brief Contact burns
Flash burns
brief contact burns with dilute chemicals
are examples of what type of burn
superficial 2nd degree
Describe 5 key characteristics of deep partial thickness burns aka deep 2nd degree
- Involves dermis and epidermis
- Mottled areas of red with white eschar, blistering possible
- Decreased pinprick
- Intact pressure sensation
- Blanchable but slow capillary refill, takes greater than/= 3 weeks to heal
Severe sunburns, scald, flash burn brief contact with dilute chemical are all examples of
deep 2nd degree burn
Describe 5 key characterisitics for full-thickness burns aka 3rd degree
- Involves destruction of the epidermis, dermis to subcutaneous
- Mottled white/black, dry leathery eschar, very painful
- can’t feel light touch
- most require surgical debridement and grafting
- Scarring and contracture likley
Prolonged contact with flame, immersion scald injury are examples of what type of burn
3rd degree
Describe key characteristics of subdermal burns aka 4 degree burns
- Destruction beyond dermis into fat, muscle, tendon and bone
- Charred and mummified
- permanent nerve damage
- Areas with no viable tissue
- Require sx and possible amp
Electical burns, strong chemical burns are examples of what type of burn
subdermal or 4 dgree
Lund-Browder classfication is appropiate in determining total body surface area to classify burns in what population
children under 16, subdivides body segments into percentages based on age.
Rule of 9
Head, front and back of each UE
the front of each LE
the back of each LE =______%
Anterior and posterior trunk_____%
9%
18%
T/F the palmar method is highly unreliable and inaccurate
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Classification of Burns
Minor Burn for a Child
%FT
%PT
%FT= < 1% %PT= <5%
Classification of Burns
Moderate Burn for an Adult
%FT
%PT
%FT= 2-5% %PT= 10-20%
Treat Inpatient
Classification of Burns
Moderate Burn for a Child
%FT
%PT
%FT=1-5%
%PT=5-10%
Classification of Burns
Major Burn for an Adult
%FT
%PT
%FT= >5%
%PT=>20%
treat in specialized burn unit
Classification of Burns
Major Burn for a Child
%FT
%PT
%FT= >5%
%PT=>10%
Name the Zone
Central portion of the burn that has suffered irreparable damage and is characterized by coagulation, ischemia, necrosis.
Zone of Coagulation
The zone of coagulation may expand up to
48 hours after initial burn injury
Name the Zone
Surrounds central necrotic region, and represents an area of cellular injury and compromised tissue perfusion. RBCs and platelets form microemoboli, further impeding circulation. If perfusion is not restored in 1-2 days cells will NOT survive.
Zone of stasis
In which zone can conversion occur, the process of widening orginial area of necrosis
Zone of stasis