Pathophysiology of Burns Flashcards
What is a burn?
- Cell damage starts at 41deg
- Coagulation of protein > 50deg
- Burning continues after initial insult
What are the components of burn wound?
- Total body surface area % (TBSA%)
- Depth
What are the functions of skin?
- Protection
- Prevention
- Preservation
- Sensory
- Thermoregulatory
- Means of communication & appearance
What are the types of burns?
- Thermal: flame, scalds, contact, cryo
- Electrical: current, arc, flash
- Chemical: acid or alkali
- Radiation: sun or radio-therapy
- Frictional
- Inhalation
What are the classifications of burn depth & which of them will heal?
- Epidermal: Yes
- Superficial dermal: Yes
- Mid-dermal: Usually
- Deep-dermal: No
- Full thickness: No
What are splash scalds?
- Caused by hot liquid, often cup/pot of tea/coffee or hot bath/shower
- Predominantly evident in the very young, the elderly, D&A, epilepsy
What are contact burns caused by?
- Touching hot object
- Commonly irons, oven doors, heaters, industrial presses exhaust pipes
What are flash burns?
- Occurs when there is ignition, such as a spark, in the vicinity of inflammable material
- Results in a sudden release of energy in the form of heat
- Magnitude of energy may be such that the patient is thrown and injured
What occurs in chemical burns?
- Acid coagulates, desiccates and is self limiting
- Alkali produces vesicles and liquefication which allows the chemical to continue to penetrate tissue
- This results in a more extensive injury
What are the characteristics of an epithelial burn?
- Mild erythema not included in %TBSA
- Heal spontaneously
What are the characteristics of superficial dermal burns?
- Necrosis continued to upper third of dermis
- Zone of necrosis lifted off viable wound by oedema
- Small zone of injury
- Healing occurs within 7-14 days with minimal dressing requirements
What are the characteristics of a mixed dermal burn?
- Healing occurs within 14-21 days
- Deeper areas may need surgical intervention
What are the characteristics of deep dermal burns?
- Necrosis involving majority of skin layers
- Zone of necrosis adherent to zone of injury
- Smaller oedema layer
What is an indeterminate dermal burn?
Deep burn that cannot be clinically distinguished
as a deep dermal or full thickness
What are the characteristics of full thickness burns?
- No remaining viable dermis
- Outer skin & some underlying tissue dead
- Surgical intervention & long-term scar management required
