Plastics Flashcards
Categories of burns?
- Thermal (flame contact, scald)
- Chemical
- Radiation (UV, medical/therapeutic)
- Electrical
Peds predominance in ______ injuries whereas adults is ______ injuries.
Peds predominance in scald and flame injuries whereas adults is flash and flame injuries.
How to calculate burn size?
- % of TBSA burned: rule of 9s for 2nd and 3rd degree burns only (blister burns)
- Children <10 yr old use Lund-Browder chart)
- For patchy burns, surface area covered by patient’s palm (fingers closed) represents approximately 1% of TBSA
- Each arm is 9% of body coverage, legs are 18% each (9 for front/back), chest/back is 36%, head is 9%
How to determine diagnosis and prognosis of burns?
- Burn size
- Depth: history of etiologic agent and time of exposure helpful
- Location
- Inhalation injury: can severely compromise respiratory system, affect fluid requirement estimation (underestimate), mortality secondary to ARDS
- Associated injuries (e.g. fractures)
To what level does a 1st degree burn go to?
1st degree: epidermis
To what level does a 2nd degree burn go to?
2nd degree: down to dermis.
To what level do 3rd/4th degree (full thickness) degree burn go to?
3rd/4th degree (full thickness): beyond dermis into deep fascia/muscle. Cannot re-epithelialize.
Signs and symptoms of 1st degree burn?
Painful, sensation intact, erythema, blanchable
Signs and symptoms of 2nd degree burn?
Painful, sensation intact, erythema (deeper rad), blisters with clear fluid, blanchable (less blanching), hair follicles present
Signs and symptoms of 3rd/4th degree (full thickness)?
- Insensate (nerve endings destroyed), hard leathery eschar that is black, grey, white, or cherry red in colour (Proteins denatured and don’t stretch); hairs do not stay attached, may see thrombosed veins
- High risk for infection, will need surgical excision and grafting.
Indications for Transfer to Burn Centre
- Partial thickness burns >10% body surface area
- Partial thickness burns >20% TBSA in patients aged 10-50 yr old
- Partial thickness burns >10% TBSA in children aged >10 or adults aged >50yrold
- Full thickness burns >5% TBSA in patients of all ages
- Electrical burns, including lightning (internal injury underestimated by TBSA), and chemical burns
- Inhalation injury - Inhalation burns are responsible for 50% of all burn deaths! It doubles mortality and is present in 5-30% burn admissions and is associated with increased fluid need.
- Burns in sensitive areas (involving face, hands, feet, genitalia, perineum, or major joints).
When is extra fluid administration required for burns?
- Burn >80% TBSA
- 4 degree burns
- Associated traumatic injury
- Electrical burn
- Inhalation injury
- Delayed start of resuscitation
- Pediatric burns
What is the calculation for resuscitation using Parkland formula to restore plasma volume?
4 ml/kg x %TBSA (greater than first degree) x wt(kg) (1/2 within first 8 h of sustaining burn, 1/2 in next 16 h)
How do you monitor fluid resuscitation for burns?
- Urine output is best measure: maintain at >0.5 cc/kg/h (adults) and 1.0 cc/kg/h in children <12 yr
- Maintain a clear sensorium, HR <120/min, MAP >70 mmHg
When to preform an escharotomy?
- In circumferential extremity burn, including digits
- Do it if there is cyanosis, impaired capillary filling, neuro changes, loss of palpable or Doppler pulses, subeschar pressure >30mmHg.
All patients with burns >10% TBSA, or deeper than superficial-partial thickness, need
0.5 cc tetanus toxoid
Also give 250 U of tetanus Ig if prior immunization is absent/unclear, or the last booster >10 yr ago
Baseline laboratory studies for burns
Hb, U/A, BUN, CXR, electrolytes, Cr, glucose, CK, ECG, cross-match if traumatic injury, ABG, carboxyhemoglobin
Treatment of first degree burns?
- Treatment aimed at comfort - cooling
- Topical creams (pain control, keep skin moist) ± aloe
- Oral NSAIDs (pain control)
Treatment of superficial second degree/partial thickness burns?
- Daily dressing changes with topical antimicrobials (such as Polysporin, silver nitrate); leave blisters intact unless circulation impaired or over joint and inhibiting motion
Treatment of deep second degree/deep partial thickness and third degree/full thickness burns?
- Prevent infection and sepsis (significant complication and cause of death in patients with burns)
- Topical antimicrobials
- Remove dead tissue - Surgically debride necrotic tissue, excise to viable (bleeding) tissue
Most common organisms for deep second degree/deep partial thickness and third degree/full thickness burns?
Most common organisms: S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and C. albicans
The mainstay of treatment for deep/full thickness burns?
Early excision and grafting is the mainstay of treatment for deep/full thickness burns
Prevention of wound contractures
Pressure dressings, joint splints, early physiotherapy
What is skin graft harvesting – electric dermatome?
Usually take it from thicker skin with lots of epithelial appendages – they will heal within 7-10 days. Skin is meshed to cover the wound
TBSA >40% have BMR ____
2-2.5x predicted so consider nutritional supplementation e.g. calories, vitamin C, vitamin A, Ca2+, Zn2+, Fe2+
GI bleed may occur with burns >40% TBSA (usually subclinical), what is the treatment?
Treatment: tube feeding or NPO if there is a GI bleed, antacids, H2 blockers (preventative)
What should you ask on history for facial injuries?
- Breathe through both parts of your nose
- Trouble speaking – mandibular fracture
- Diplopia – Orbital fracture
- Facial paresthesias
- Malocclusion - mandibular fracture
- Vertigo – temporal bone fracture
Facial fractures that warrant urgent evaluation and admission include
- Nasoethmoid fractures, to monitor for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks and possible complications (eg, meningitis)
- Zygomatic arch fractures associated with trismus, to monitor for airway complications
- LeFort-type fractures of the midface, for surgical repair
- Facial fractures in patients with multiple significant injuries
Investigations for facial injuries?
CT (gold standard)
- Axial and coronal (specifically request 1.5 mm cuts): for fractures of upper and middle face, as well as mandible
- Indicated for significant head trauma, suspected facial fractures, and pre-operative assessment
Most common sites for mandibular fractures?
Commonly at sites of weakness (condylar neck, angle of mandible)
Clinical features of mandibular fractures?
- Pain, swelling, difficulty opening mouth (“trismus”)
- Malocclusion, asymmetry of dental arch
- Damaged, loose, or lost teeth
- Palpable “step” along mandible
- Numbness in V3 distribution
- Intra-oral lacerations or hematoma (sublingual)
- Chin deviating toward side of a fractured condyle
Investigations for mandibular fractures?
Panorex radiograph: shows entire upper and lower jaw; best for isolated mandible fracture, but patient must be able to sit; however, if high clinical suspicion and negative panorex, CT should be done
Treatment for mandibular fractures?
- Maxillary and mandibular arch bars wired together (intramaxillary fixation) or ORIF ideally managed within 48 h as indicated by best current evidence
- Antibiotics from initial presentation until at least 3 doses post-operatively; if late presentation, may consider treatment with antibiotics for an extended course
What is a LeFort I injury?
LeFort I injuries involve a transverse fracture through the maxilla above the roots of the teeth.
What is a LeFort II injury?
LeFort II injuries are typically bilateral and involve fractures that extend superiorly in the midface to include the nasal bridge, maxilla, lacrimal bones, orbital floor, and rim. The fracture lines are shaped like a pyramid
What is a LeFort III injury?
LeFort III injuries (ie, craniofacial dissociation) involve fractures that result in discontinuity between the skull and the face. The fractures begin at the bridge of the nose and extend posteriorly along the medial wall of the orbit and the floor of the orbit, and then through the lateral orbital wall and the zygomatic arch
What is the “Tripod” fracture of the midface?
Involves the zygoma, lateral orbit, and the maxilla
Clinical features of nasal fractures?
Epistaxis/hemorrhage, deviation/flattening of nose, swelling, periorbital ecchymosis, tenderness over nasal dorsum, crepitus, septal hematoma, respiratory obstruction, subconjunctival hemorrhage
Treatment of nasal fractures?
- Treated for airway or cosmetic issues
- Always inspect for and drain septal hematoma as this is a cause of septal necrosis and perforation- completed in the ER with small incision in the septal mucosa followed by packing
- Closed reduction with Aschor Walsham forceps under anesthesia, pack nostrils with petroleum or nonadhesive gauze packing, nasal splint for 7 d
- Best reduction immediately (<6h) or when swelling subsides (5-7d)
- Rhinoplasty may be necessary later for residual deformity (30%)
What is orbital entrapment?
- Clinical diagnosis that is a surgical emergency
- Diplopia with straight gaze: unable to look up past neutral (entrapment of inferior rectus), limited EOM
- Severe pain or nausea and vomiting with upward globe movement
- Requires urgent ophthalmology evaluation if there are associated visual acuity changes
Investigations for orbital fractures?
- CT (diagnostic): axial and coronal views – with fine cuts through orbit; rounding of inferior rectus is a sign of orbital entrapment
- Diagnostic maneuver for entrapment is forced duction test (pulling on inferior rectus muscle with forceps to ensure full ROM) under local anesthesia in the OR
Clinical features of orbital fractures?
- Defects in visual fields, decreased visual acuity, injury to globe
- Periorbital edema and bruising, subconjunctival hemorrhage
- Ptosis, exophthalmos, exorbitism, enophthalmos, orhypoglobus
- Orbital rim step-offs with possible infraorbital nerve anesthesia
- Vertical dystopia (abnormal displacement of the entire orbital cone in the vertical plane) - assessed by comparing the symmetry of the two pupils by a horizontal line running through the pupil of the unaffected eye
- Orbital entrapment
Treatment of orbital fractures?
- Surgical repair indicated if: entrapment (urgent), any size defect with enophthalmos (if patient is bothered by it) or persistent diplopia (>10 d)
- Reconstruction of orbital floor with bone graft or alloplastic material
- After repair, assess for diplopia (may require additional surgery for strabismus)
Complications of orbital fractures?
- Persistent diplopia
- Enophthalmos
Definition of primary healing (first intention)?
Definition: wound closure by direct approximation of edges within hours of wound creation (i.e. with sutures, staples, skin graft, etc.)
Indication of primary healing (first intention)?
Indication: recent (<6h, longer with facial wounds), clean wounds
Contraindications of primary healing (First Intention)?
Contraindications: Animal/human bites (except on face), crush injuries, infection, long time lapse since injury (>6-8 h), retained foreign body
What is an abrasion?
Abrasion: superficial skin layer is removed, variable depth
What is a laceration?
Laceration: sharply cut tissue