Week 9 - Burns Flashcards
What is the function of the skin?
To be a barrier - Protecting underlying tissue from injury - Immune system: bacterial infection - Water loss Regulate temperature Sensory organ Psycho-social function
What are the 3 layers of skin?
The epidermis, dermis and hypodermis
What is the Epidermis?
Superficial outer layer
Avascular
Semi-permeable barrier
What is the dermis?
The inner layer of the two main layers of the skin. The dermis has:
- Connective tissue
- Blood vessels
- Sebaceous (oil) glands
- Sweat glands
- Afferent nerve endings
- Hair follicles
- Parallel collagen fibres
What is the hypodermis?
It is the bottom layer of skin in your body. It consists of:
- loose fatty connective tissue
- cutaneous nerves
- Skin appendages
- Lymphatics
- Blood vessels
How are burns classified?
Aetiology, size and depth
What are burn injury aetiologies (mechanism of the burn)?
Thermal (scald, flame, contact, frostbite) Chemical Electrical Radiation Friction
What is the wallace rule of nines?
The Wallace rule of nines is a tool used in pre-hospital and emergency medicine to estimate the total body surface area affected by a burn.
What percentage of the wallace rule of nines classifies a major injury?
> 20%
What are the depths of burns?
Epidermal Superficial partial thickness Mid-dermal partial thickness Deep-dermal partial thickness Full thickness
What is an epidermal burn?
Only affects the epidermis
What is the appearance of an epidermal burn?
Red, may have delayed blisters
Blanches
What is the sensation of an epidermal burn?
Intact sensation, hypersensitive/painful
What is the management of an epidermal burn?
Conservative
Heals within 7 days
What is a superficial partial thickness burn?
Affects the epidermis and superficial (papillary) dermis
What is the appearance of a superficial partial thickness burn?
Red
Blanches
Wet, may have blisters
What is the sensation of a superficial partial thickness burn?
Intact sensation, hypersensitive/painful
What is the management of a superficial partial thickness burn?
Conservative
Heals within 14 days
What is a mid-dermal partial thickness burn?
Affects the epidermis and partial dermis
What is the appearance of a mid-dermal partial thickness burn?
Pale pink to dark pink, may have delayed blisters
Blanching is sluggish
What is the sensation of a mid-dermal partial thickness burn?
Intact sensation, can be painful although less than superficial
What is the management of mid-dermal partial thickness burns?
Conservative or surgical
Heals in 14-21 days
What is a deep-dermal partial thickness burn?
Affects epidermis and deep dermis
What is the appearance of a deep-dermal partial thickness burn?
Mottled red and white
Absent blanching
Blistering
What is the sensation of a deep-dermal partial thickness burn?
Reduced sensation
May feel pressure sensation
How is a deep-dermal partial thickness burn managed?
Surgical
full recovery takes 12-18 months
What are full thickness burns?
Affect epidermis, dermis and underlying tissues
What is the appearance of a full thickness burn?
White or tan, waxy, charred
absent blanching
rigid, inelastic, leathery
What is the sensation of a full thickness burn?
Absent