Burns, wound healing and orthopaedics Flashcards
Describe possible reasons for low gcs in burns patient
-Hypoxia
-Inhalation injury
-Head injury
Possible:
–> drug/alcohol overdose
–> hypoglycaemia
When would you expect inhalation injury from history?
-Burns occuring in enclosed space
-Smoke during incident
-Injury from blast
-Pt brought in unconcious/decreased GCS
What are the signs of smoke inhalation injury?
-Facial +/- neck burns
-Singed hairs (eyebrows, nose hairs)
-Soot in airway
-Hoarseness/stridor
-Carbonaceous sputum
-Hypoxia
-Low GCS
How would you initially manage burns pt?
-Manage according to ATLS guidelines
-A-E
-Analgesia, tetanus, investigations, fluid resuscitation
What investigations would you request in burns pt?
-FBC, U + E, coag, G + S
-ABG, COHb levels
-CT head
-CT trauma if evidence of trauma
What is half life of carbon monoxide?
-Room air: 250 mins
-100% O2: 40 mins
How would you clinically assess depth of a burn?
-Colour
-Cap refill
-Presence/abscence of blisters
-Sensation
How would you estimate the extent of the burn as mesaured by TBSA?
-Hand surface area = 1% (patient’s hand)
-Rule of 9’s
-Lund and browder chart
Describe rule of 9s
Head = 9%
Arm = 9%
chest = 9%
abdomen = 9%
Back: 18%
Leg = 18%
Genitals = 1%
What are the indications for fluid resuscitation in burns?
->10% deep partial/full thickness in children
->15% deep partial/full thickness in adults ?? 20% according to new atls guidelines
What fluid resuscitation is given? When is it indicated?
New ATLS guidelines:
-2ml x body weight Kg x % TBSA
-Half over 8 hrs, subsequent over 16
-Indicated if over 20% deep partial thickness or full thickness burn
What would you expect in a deep dermal burn?
-Dry, blotchy red cherry skin
-Absence of a capillary refill
-Loss of sensation
What emergency treatment is required for circumferential burns?
Escharotomy
What are the indications/criteria for referring to the burns unit?
-5% TBSA full thickness burn in adults
-5% TBSA in children (any depth)
-10% TBSA in adults (any depth)
-Burns + inhalation
-Burns + trauma
-Electrical and chemical burns
-Burns in certain anatomical areas e.g. face, hands, feet, perineum and genitals
-Circumferential full thickness burns
Healing by primary intention
-Wound edges are approximated by sutures, glue, staples or steristrips
-Healing occurs in an orderly manner
-Good cosmetic outcome
Healing by delayed primary intention
-Used in bites (human/animal) or contaminated wounds
-Following thorough debridement, the wound is left open for 24-48 hrs and then primary closure is performed
Healing by secondary intention
-The wound edges cannot be approximated (tissue loss)
-Wound heals by contraction
-Poorer cosmetic outcome compared to healing by primary intention
-Myofibroblasts are the predominant cell type in this type of healing
Healing by re-epithelialisation
-Only epiderms and superficial part of the dermis are injured
-Adnexal structures are intact and the wound heals by re-epithelialisation
-Seen in abrasions and split-skin donor sites
What are the stages of wound healing?
- Haemostasis
- Inflammation
- Proliferation
- Re-modelling
Haemostasis
-Vasoconstriction
-Platelet aggregation and activation
-Fibrin clot formation