Burns Injury

Question 1

Define

Answer 1

when tissue damage occurs by thermal, electrical or chemical injury

Question 2

Causes

Answer 2

Contact with hot objects (lol)

Electricity

UV light

Irradiation

Chemicals

High Risk Patients

• Young children
• Elderly

Question 3

Epidemiology

Answer 3

UK has > 12,000 admission per year

Question 4

Symptoms

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Signs

Answer 5

Check for inhalational injury or airway compromise:

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

Check site, depth and distribution of burn

Partial Thickness Burn

• Subdivided into:
  
  • Superficial: red and oedematous skin + PAINFUL
    
    • Heals within around 7 days with peeling of dead skin
  • Deep: blistering and mottling + PAINFUL
    
    • Heals over 3 weeks, usually without scarring
  • 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

Size of Burn

• Described as a percentage of body surface area

Question 6

Investigations

Answer 6

Bloods

Oxygen saturation, ABG and carboxyhaemoglobin (if inhalational injury)

• FBC
• U&Es
• Group and Save

Investigations for electrical burns

• Serum CK
• Urine myoglobin (check for muscle damage)
• ECG