Burns Flashcards
Allograft
Skin substitute, donor skin taken from another human
Body usually rejects in 10-14 days
Autograft
Split-thickness skin grafts from an uninjured donor site of the patient, provides quick and permanent closure of the wound
Two primary factors that influence the amount of tissue destruction that occurs following a burn injury are
- Temperature
2. Duration of exposure
Zone of coagulation
Area of maximum damage (exposed to the most amount of heat and ensures the most damage),
Area of irreversible tissue destruction
Zone of stasis
Surrounds zone of coagulation,
where damage results in decreased tissue perfusion, tissue may be salvageable, the main goal of burn resuscitation is to increase tissue perfusion here and prevent any irreversible damage
Perfusion- process of a body delivering blood to a capillary bed in its biological tissue
Zone of hyperemia
Tissues in the outer zones surrounding coagulation and stasis zones,
are damaged but with proper care should recover and heal,
w/o proper care further damage may result and increased tissue loss can occur
Aim of care after burn injury
Reduce or prevent dermal ischemia, avoiding further tissue death
Eschar
Residual narcotic layers of skin destroyed by direct heat damage or injury occurring secondary to heat damage
Most common cause of burns
Fire/flame 42%
Superficial burn injury
First degree, burn involves only the epidermal laters of the skin
Redness and pain
Dry, does not form blisters
Sensitive to air/ light touch
Heals within 3-6 days w/o residual scarring
Partial-Thickness burn
Second degree, epidermal and extends down into the dermal layer Large, thick blisters Deep red- waxy white Leaks body fluid Sensitive to pressure 7-20days with residual scarring
Superficial partial thickness
Upper layers of the papillary dermis
Clear blisters, weeping, wet skin
Will blanch when touched
Deep partial-thickness burn
Entire epidermis, and entire dermis (spares base of hair follicle)
Appear white, and will not blanch when touched
Full-thickness
Third degree, destroys entire epidermal, dermal layers of skin and extends down into the subcutaneous fat
Dry, leathery in texture, small fragile thin walled blisters
*nerve ends destroyed
At risk for contracture formation
Deep full-thickness burn
Fourth-degree, all layers of skin and extends down into muscle, tendons or bone
Challenging to close, can result in partial or total loss of function
(Amputations may be warranted)