Questions and Answers
What is the typical color of a third-degree burn?
Gray or charred black
What is a characteristic of a first-degree burn?
Reddening and pain
What is the purpose of the 'Rule of Nines'?
To estimate the percentage of body surface area burned
What is a common symptom of a third-degree burn?
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How long does a first-degree burn typically take to heal?
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What is the estimated percentage of the body surface area burned if both legs, the groin, and the front chest and abdomen are burned?
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What is the typical appearance of a second-degree burn?
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What type of burn requires grafting?
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What is the primary function of the skin in thermoregulation?
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What is the main consequence of skin injuries that result in its loss?
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What is the layer of skin that contains pigment to protect against UV radiation?
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What is the main difference between 1st and 2nd degree burns?
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What is the function of sweat glands in the skin?
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What is the layer of skin that contains nerve endings and blood vessels?
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Why is it often difficult to predict the exact depth of a burn in the acute phase?
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What is the main function of the skin as a whole?
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Study Notes
Skin Anatomy
- The skin is the largest body organ, with functions that go beyond being a passive organ.
- It protects underlying tissues from injury, regulates temperature, acts as a water-tight seal, and facilitates communication/sensation.
Skin Layers
- The skin has two main layers: the epidermis and dermis.
- The epidermis acts as a protection and forms a water-tight seal, and it also contains pigment to protect against UV radiation.
- The dermis consists of tough, elastic connective tissue and contains specialized structures such as nerve endings, blood vessels, sweat glands, oil glands, and hair follicles.
Degree of Burn (Depth Classification)
- Burns can be classified into three degrees based on their depth:
- 1st degree: superficial burn, involving only the epidermis, characterized by reddening, tenderness, and pain, but no blistering.
- 2nd degree: involves the epidermis and dermis, characterized by a moist, shiny appearance, and is the most painful.
- 3rd degree: involves the destruction of the epidermis and dermis, and extends into subcutaneous fat, characterized by a thick, dry, pearly gray or charred black color, and is painless due to destroyed nerve endings.
Assessing Body Surface Area Burnt
- The "Rule of Nines" divides the body surface into areas of nine percent or multiples of nine percent, with the exception of the perineum, which is estimated at one percent.
- This rule is used to estimate the percentage of burn and guide treatment decisions, including fluid resuscitation and transfer to a burn unit.
- The rule is only applied to partial thickness (2nd degree) and full thickness (3rd degree) burns.
- The percentage of burn can be calculated by using multiples of 9, with each body area assigned a percentage (e.g. arms, legs, chest, abdomen, etc.).
