Burns Flashcards
What are the functions of the skin? (6)
- -Waterproof
- -protects from infection
- -helps control body temperature,
- -prevents fluid loss
- -provides vast sensory information
- -contributes to a person’s identity
What are 5 causes of burns?
- THermal
- Chemical
- Electrical
- Radiation
- Cold exposure
What is a Thermal burn?
*most common
exposure to flame, hot liquids, steam etc.
What is a chemical burn?
caused by tissue contact with strong acids or organic compounds
(Example: Drain cleaners)
What is an electrical burn?
heat that is generated by electrical energy as it passes through the body, bones are heated up (exit and entry wounds visible)
What is a Radiation burn?
sunburn, x-rays
What is a Cold exposure burn?
frostbite / damage occurs to the skin and underlying tissues when ice crystals puncture the cells
What is %TBSA ?
percentage of total body surface area that is burned
What is the “rule of 9s” ?
Divides the body into areas of 9%
> After 30% chances of death goes way up
Are burn deaths difficult to asses?
yes
What is Superficial burn (1st degree)
Causes?
Look like?
Healing process?
- Cause: straightener, steam, sunburn
- Dry and red
- 1-5 days healing with no scarring
What is a Partial (2nd degree) burn?
Causes?
Look like?
Healing process?
- Generally blister – extremely painful
- Causes: scald (spill) flame, oil & grease
- Wet or waxy appearance with blisters
- 2-3 weeks of healing – severe scarring
What is the Partial burn sub-classified into?
- superficial (blisters) burn
- deep partial thickness burn (waxy appearance)
- full-thickness burn (waxy white appearance or leathery grey )
What is a full thickness (3rd degree) burn?
Causes?
Look like?
Does it need grafting?
Will it heal?
- Right through dermis and epidermis
- Causes: scald (immersion), flame, steam, chemical
- Waxy white / gray / black
- YES!! Dry – will need grafting
- Small areas may heal by secondary intention
What is Deep full thickness (4th degree) ?
Causes?
Grafts needed?
- Muscles, tendon, bone are involved – no pain
- Causes = explosion, flame, chemical, high-voltage electricity
- May require amputation or reconstructive surgery / flaps
- Flaps = full thickness tissue from other areas of your body and placing it on top of the burn
What is important with grafting in 4th degree burn?
can only graft with your own skin because of rejection
What is Escharotomies ?
- sliced open to relieve pressure*
- performed in the case of circumferential full thickness burns of the limbs, hands and chest because the pressure can compromise the vascular system
What are some treatments in Acute care?
- Wound care – infection control
- ROM – pain control
- Kirschner wires in fingers
What is Eschar ?
dead epidermis
How is it determined when to graft?
When healing is expected to exceed 3 weeks
Where is Skin harvested from ?
donor site: somewhere on body (ex. thigh)
What is Sheet vs. Meshed grafting?
- Sheet = solid
- Meshed = harvest piece of skin and put it through a machine where it cuts holes in it and stretches it out
What is STSG?
(split-thickness skin graft) •includes of the epidermis and some of the dermis.
What is Hypertrophic scar?
red hard collagenous scar – appears after 6 to 8 weeks
How can the scarring process lead to joint contractures?
- Normal wounds heal by contracture. The new collagen fibres from and shorten, pulling the skin and across joints.
- This process can take place over months and years.
How can you Counteract contractures ?
= splinting, positioning pressure garments (23 hour daily), pressure inserts, masks, functional activity, exercise
What is the role of a OT/OTA post surgery?
- Maintain ROM
- maintain function
- Splinting- continual adjusting
What is the rehab component for a burn?
- Pressure garments/masks
- Splinting into anti-deformity positions of all joints; for day + night
- Psychological support
- Education
What is Flamazine?
antibacterial cream
What is the Natural formation of scarring ?
– contraction (pulling in)
