Burns Injury Flashcards
Define Burns Injury?
When tissue damage occurs by thermal, electrical or chemical injury
What are the risk factors for Burns Injury?
Contact with hot objects Electricity UV light Irradiation Chemicals
Who are high risk patients for burns injuries?
Young Children
Elderly
What is the epidemiology of burns injuries?
UK has > 12,000 admissions per year
What are the presenting symptoms of burns injuries?
Note the circumstances of the burn
Important to find out the time, temperature and length of contact with the agent
Consider risk of smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning
What are the signs of burns injuries on physical examination?
Check for inhalational injury or airway compromise
Check site, depth and distribution of burn
Partial Thickness Burn
Full Thickness Burn
Size of Burn
What are some of the examples of inhalational injury or airway compromise?
Stridor Dyspnoea Hoarse Voice Soot in nose Singed nose hairs Carbonaceous Sputum
How is Partial Thickness Burn subdivided?
Superficial:
red and oedamatous skin + painful
Heals within around 7 days with peeling of dead skin
Deep:
Blistering and mottling + painful
Heals over 3 weeks, usually without scarring
What are some of the typical features of a Full Thickness Burn?
Destruction of the epidermis and dermis
Charred leathery eschars
Firm and PAINLESS with loss of sensation
Healing will occur by scarring or contractures and requires skin grafting
How do we find out the size of the burn?
Described as a percentage of body surface area
What are some of the bloods you would do for Burns Injuries?
Oxygen Saturation, ABG and carboxyhaemoglobin (if inhalational injury)
FBC
U&Es
Group and Save
What investigations would you do for Electrical Burns?
Serum CK
Urine Myoglobin (check for muscle damage)
ECG
