Burns Injury

Question 1

Define:

Answer 1

When tissue is damaged due to thermal, electrical or chemical injury

Question 2

Aetiology:

Answer 2

Contact with hot objects 
Chemicals 
Irradiation 
Electricity 
UV light

Question 3

Who is at the highest risk?

Answer 3

Young children and the elderly

Question 4

Epidemiology:

Answer 4

UK incidence is >12,000 a year

Question 5

Symptoms:

Answer 5

Ask about the circumstances

Find out the time, temperature and contact with the agent

Consider inhalation injury if:

• Hoarseness of voice
• Stridor
• Face burns
• Hx of exposure to fire
• Soot in sputum and saliva
• Harsh cough

Question 6

Signs:

Answer 6

Need to determine size (to see the inflammatory response- expressed as a percentage of the body’s surface), depth (to know degree burn it is and how it will scar and heal) and distribution

Inhalation injury or airway compromise:

• Singed nose hairs
• Stridor
• Dyspnoea
• Hoarse voice
• Soot in nose

Question 7

What are the different classifications of burns and what do they look like?

Answer 7

Partial thickness (2nd and 3rd degree)

• Superficial = red and oedematous skin + painful (will usually heal in 7 days with peeling dead skin)
• Deep = blistering, mottling + painful (can be wet or dry) - takes 3 weeks to heal

Full thickness (4th degree);

• Black
• Non-blanching
• Painless with loss of sensation
• destruction of the dermis and epidermis
• Requires skin graft

Question 8

Investigations:

Answer 8

Bloods:

• ABG
• SPO2
• Carboxyhaemaglobin
• FBC
• U + Es
• Group and save

Investigation for chemical burns:

• Serum CK
• Urine myoglobin
• ECG

Burns calculator used to see how much IV fluid to give