BURNS: OVERVIEW Flashcards
Treatment plan for burns depends on two factors
(ATI 829)
- Type of Burn
- Severity of burn
4 Types of Burns
- Thermal: Flames, steam or hot liquids
- Chemical Burns
- Electrical Burns
- Radiation Burns
Because Electrical burns pass through the body damage including (4) must be assessed
- Loss of organ function
- Limb amputation
- Cardiac arrest
- Respiratory arrest
In addition to destruction of body tissue, a burn injury results in loss of (4)
(ATI 829)
- Temperature regulation
- Sweat and sebaceous gland function
- Sensory function
- Metabolism increases to maintain body heat
The severty of the burn is based on: (3)
- Percentage of total body surface area TBSA
- Depth of the burn
- Body location of the burn
Percentage of total body surface area TBSA (3)
The severty of the burn is based on: (3)
Percentage of total body surface area TBSA:
- Standardized charts
- For ALL age groups
- Used to identify extent of the injury
Depth of the burn
The severty of the burn is based on: (3)
Depth of the burn
- Classified according to the layers of skin and tissue involved
Body location of the burn (2)
The severty of the burn is based on: (3)
(ATI 829)
Body location of the burn
- Areas of thinner skin…there is more damage to underlying tissue
- Any part of face, hand, perineum, feet
Methods to assess (SEVERITY) of burns: (3)
- Rule of Nines
- Lund and Browder Method
- Palmer Method
Rule of Nines (4)
Methods to assess (SEVERITY) of burns: (3)
Rule of Nines:
- Quick method to approximate the extent of burn
- by dividing the body into multiples of nine.
- The total of the sum is equal to the total body surface area (TBSA).
- This determines the measurement and the extent of the burn.
Lund and Browder Method (3)
(Pediatric)
Methods to assess (SEVERITY) of burns: (3)
Lund and Browder Method
- A more exact method estimating the extent of burn
- by the percentage of surface area of anatomic parts, particularly the head and legs of the client injured.
- Dividing body into smaller parts and providing a TBSA for each body part, an estimate of TBSA can be determined.
Palmer Method (4)
scattered burns
Methods to assess (SEVERITY) of burns: (3)
Palmer Method
- Quick method to approximate scattered burns
- using the palm of theclient’s hand.
- The palm of the client’s hand (excluding the fingers) is equal to 0.5% TBSA.
- This method can be used for all age groups.
In addition to burn injury other factors must be considered when developing treatment plan (5)
- Age of client
- Causitive agent
- Presence of other injuries
- Involvment of respiratory system
- Overall health of the client
Three Phases of Burn Care
Three Phases of Burn Care
- Emergent (resuscitative phase):
- First 24 to 48 hr after the burn occurs
- Acute
- Begins when fluid resuscitation is finished
- Ends when the wound is covered by tissue
- Rehabilitative
- Begins when most of the burn area is healed
- Ends when reconstructive and corrective procedures are complete (may last for years)
