Burns Flashcards
What is a burn?
An injury caused by exposure to heat, electrical, chemical or radiation energy
How are burns classified?
- Superficial epidermal (1st) - Red, painful, no blisters
- Partial thickness/Superficial dermal (2nd) - Pale pink, painful, blistered, slow cap refill
- Partial thickness/Deep dermal (2nd) - White patches reduced sensation, painful to deep pressure
- Full thickness (3rd) - White/Brown/Black in colour, no blisters, no pain
What are non-complex and complex burns?
Non-complex: any partial thickness covering up to 15% TBSA or a deep partial-thickness covering up to 1%
Complex: all electrical/chemical burns, any thermal burn in a critical area (face, hands, feet, genitalia), any thermal burn covering more than 15% TBSA
How do you assess the extent of burns?
Wallace’s Rules of 9s: Head/Neck, Each arm, Each anterior part of leg, Each posterior part of leg, posterior chest, anterior abdomen and posterior abdomen all account for 9%
Lund and Browder chart: most accurate method - uses a chart displaying the different areas of the body
Rule of palm: palmar surface = 1% of TBSA
How are burns classified?
- Superficial epidermal (1st) - Red, painful, no blisters
- Partial thickness/Superficial dermal (2nd) - Pale pink, painful, blistered, slow cap refill
- Partial thickness/Deep dermal (2nd) - White patches reduced sensation, painful to deep pressure
- Full thickness (3rd) - White/Brown/Black in colour, no blisters, no pain
How are burns managed?
ABCDE
Heat burns: Irrigate burn with cool water for 10-30 minutes and cover with layered cling film
Electrical: Switch off power source and remove person from are and arrange A+E
Chemical: Brush off any powder and irrigate with water for around an hour and arrange admission to A+E
How are non-complex burns managed?
- Symptom relief: cool baths/showers, analgesia if needed, emollients to relieve itching/dryness
- Arrange review if blistering/signs of infection
