Burns Flashcards
What are the primary functions of skin?
- Protective covering
- Prevent excessive loss of body fluids
- Regulate body temperature through the evaporation of water
- Sensation
- Vitamin D synthesis
- Resist mechanical stresses
- Cosmetic covering for personal identity
- Absorption of selected substances
True or False: Epidermis is vascular.
False. Epidermis is avascular and contains no blood vessels.
Which layer of the skin provides strength and elasticity of the skin?
Dermis
What are the 3 layers of skin?
Epidermis
Dermis
Hypodermis
What structures does the hypodermis contain?
Blood vessels
Fat
What structures does the dermis contain?
Nerve endings, hair follicles, sweat glands, blood vessels
What are the 3 stages of wound healing? How long do they last?
- Homeostasis and inflammatory stage (0-96 hours): Coagulation, removal of tissue debri and bacteria
- Proliferative stage (day 4-12): Skin continuity re-established, matrix contraction starts, formation of new capillaries
- Maturation and remodelling phase (day 13 onward): Reorganization of new collagen, scar remodelling (up to 2 years)
What is primary closure of a wound?
A wound that is re-approximated or closed by suture, staples, or tape
What is secondary intent of a wound?
A wound that is kept moist and allowed to granulate and re-epithelialize rather than using primary closure, in cases of contaminated wounds
What is delayed primary closure of a wound?
Compromise between primary closure and secondary intent; Treated initially by secondary intent to eliminate bacteria, then primarily closed when the wound is clean.
When is skin grafting used?
Used for large wounds that cannot be closed with normal healing processes in a timely manner
What are flaps?
Tissues that contain its own blood supply and are transferred over avascular areas such as bone and tendon
How does age affect wound healing?
Older age = Slower healing time
Younger age = Faster healing time, more scarring
How does diabetes affect wound healing?
Slower wound healing time
How do medications and treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, and immunosuppressants affect wound healing?
Slower healing time, increased risk of graft loss
What kind of diets are needed for wound healing?
High protein diets
How are burns categorized into minor and major?
Major burn ≥ 10% total body surface area
Minor burn ≤ 10% total body surface area
What is 1st degree or superficial burn?
Only the epidermis is injured
No blistering
What is 2nd degree or partial thickness burn?
The dermis is injured to different degrees (superficial, moderate, deep)
What is 3rd degree or full thickness burn?
The dermis is fully injured and the hypodermis is exposed
What is 4th degree burn?
Muscle/bone/tendon exposure
What is the rule of 9s?
A rule/chart that divides the body into sections that represent 9% of total body surface area
True or False: The rule of 9s work for both adults and pediatric patients.
False. The rule of 9s only work for adults.
The size of the patient’s hand (palm + fingers) is equal to __ % of the patient’s total body surface area.
1%
How long does it take for a 1st degree or superficial burn to heal?
<7 days
How long does it take for a 2nd degree or partial thickness burn to heal?
7-21 days
Which skin layers do superficial partial thickness burns involve?
Epidermis
Top layers of the dermis
True or False: Superficial partial thickness burns have intact or open blisters.
True.
What is the colour of superficial burns?
Very red
What is the colour of superficial partial thickness burns?
Red to pale pink
Superficial partial thickness burns are [likely/unlikely] to scar.
Unlikely
What does the colour of the burn indicate?
How much blood flow is going to the burn
Which skin layers do moderate to deep partial thickness burns involve?
Epidermis
Lower layers of the dermis
Which type of burns start to have reduced sensation to light touch or damage to nerves?
Moderate to deep partial thickness
True or False: Moderate to deep partial thickness burns do not have blisters.
False. Moderate to deep partial thickness burns do have intact or open blisters.
How long does it take for moderate to deep partial thickness burns to heal?
> 21 days
True or False: Moderate to deep partial thickness burns requires grafting.
True.
Moderate to deep partial thickness burns are [likely/unlikely] to scar.
Likely
Which skin layers do full thickness burns involve?
Epidermis
All layers of the dermis
Not bone or tendons
What is the colour of moderate to deep partial thickness burns?
Range from red to pale pink to white
What is the colour of full thickness burns?
White and leathery to black and charred
Full thickness burns are [dry/wet].
Dry
True or False: Full thickness burns are very painful.
False. Because nerve endings have been damaged, full thickness burns result in no pain nor light touch.
What is escharotomy?
Cutting of the burnt tissue to relieve pressure from edema and prevent blood flow loss
What type of burns result in 4th degree burns?
Electrical burns
Which skin layers do 4th degree burns involve?
Epidermis
All layers of the dermis and hypodermis
Tendons and bones
What is the colour of 4th degree burns?
White and leathery to black and charred