Burns and Wounds PDF

Burns and Wounds Burns Traumatic injuries to the skin or other tissues Healing ideally progresses rapidly in series of steps Can be caused by: o Heat o Electric discharge o Friction o Chemicals o Radiation Heat Injury related to: o Contact temp o Duration of contact o Thickness of skin Most involve...

Burns and Wounds Burns Traumatic injuries to the skin or other tissues Healing ideally progresses rapidly in series of steps Can be caused by: o Heat o Electric discharge o Friction o Chemicals o Radiation Heat Injury related to: o Contact temp o Duration of contact o Thickness of skin Most involve epidermis and part of dermis Most caused by: o Flames o Hot liquids o Hot solid objects o Steam Electrical Discharge Electrical energy transformed into heat Current passes thru poorly conducting body tissues Electroporation disrupts membrane potential Severity of injury depends on: o Pathway of current o Resistance to current flow through tissues o Strength and duration of current flow Chemicals Injury caused by: o Caustic reactions o Alteration of pH o Disruption of cellular membranes o Direct toxic effects on metabolic processes Injury severity determined by: o Duration of exposure o Nature of agent Acid burns: Coagulation necrosis of tissue Alkaline burns: Liquification necrosis Radiation Radiofrequency energy Ionizing radiation Merkel Cell Carcinoma – sunburn Excessive radiation therapy o From diagnostic procedures o Dependent on dose, time of exposure, type of particle o Can cause deep internal burns (remember with heat it was on epidermis and part of dermis) New Naming Old Naming Description Friction Injury due to: o Mechanical disruption of tissues o Heat generated by friction Burn Classification : depth determines healing potential and management Superficial Partial-thickness Full-thickness Deep 1st degree 2nd degree 3rd degree 4th degree Epidermal layer Involves epidermis and Destroys all layers of Extends into subcutaneous soft ONLY part of dermis dermis, can impact tissue subcutaneous tissue Red burns that Superficial partial: Involves vessels, nerves, muscles, blanch with Blister and blanch with Burn areas that are waxy, bones, joints pressure pressure white, leathery gray Most severe Deep partial: Unroofed blisters that DO NOT blanch Healing Time 3-6 days 7-21+ days Rare unless sx performed Never; unless sx performed Minor Thermal Burns classification Partial thickness