Chapter 27: Soft Tissue Trauma Flashcards
What is a superficial burn?
It is a first-degree burn. It only effects the top layer of skin and is painful
What is a partial-thickness burn?
Second degree burn: Epidermis and some dermis, mottled, white to red skin, often blistered
What is a full-thickness burn?
Third-degree
Extends through all layers, dry leathery, often either white or charred
What makes a burn a severe burn?
Full-thickness- >5% TBSA or of hands, feet, face, genitalia, airway, or circumferential burns
Partial-thickness: 20%+ TBSA if 10-50 yrs old otherwise 10%+
Burns with concomitant traumatic injuries
“moderate” burns to pts younger than 5 or older than 50
What makes a burn moderate?
Full-thickness: 2-10% TBSA (excluding hands, feet, face , genitalia, & upper airway)
Partial-thickness: 15-30%TBSA
Superficial: 50%+ TBSA
All of these are severe if the patient is younger than 5 or older than 50
What makes a burn minor?
Full-thickness: >2% TBSA
Partial-thickness: >15% TBSA
Superficial burns >50% TBSA
What is the rule of nines?
It is a way to determine the amount of total body surface effected to determine the severity of the burn
How does the rule of nine apply to adults? How is the rule of nines applied to children and infants differently?
Head: 9%
Chest: 9%
Abdomen: 9%
Upper back: 9%
Lower back: 9%
Arm: 9%
Leg: 18%
Genitalia: 1%
Child: Head = 12% Leg: 16.5%
Infant: Head =18% Leg: 13.5%
What is important to not let distract you when dealing with soft tissue injuries?
The distracting injuries!! Don’t forget your ABCs!!
What organ is soft tissue damage all about and what must you consider?
It is all about the skin. Think fluid loss, infection, and uncontrollable temperature
What are the three types of soft tissue injury?
Closed, open, and burns
What are the signs of a closed tissue injury? And what should concern you?
A blunt force, pain at injury, swelling, deformity, discoloration- contusion: ecchymosis, hematoma (larger blood vessels than bruise)
Consider injury to internal organs.
What is crush syndrome?
It is when a patient is crushed for more than 4 hours the muscle cells release harmful substances.
Pt must get IV fluids before object is moved or they may experience cardiac arrest and renal failure
What is compartment syndrome?
Swelling causes increased pressure degreasing circulation
S/S deep aching pain and tightness. pt has a previous injury
(treatment is fasciotomy)
What is the main concern for open soft tissue wounds? And what are the common open soft tissue wounds?
Contamination
abrasion (superficial friction), laceration (jagged. sharp object tears “talking” means open), avulsion (detachment or hanging, includes teeth), crush injury (amount and duration of force), amputation (body part completely severed), penetrating wound, stabbing/ shooting (count holes), blast injuries (primary, secondary, tertiary)
