BURNS Flashcards
What is a burn?
An injury caused by exposure to thermal, electrical, chemical or radiation energy
What is a scald?
A burn caused by contact with a hot liquid or steam
What is a non-complex burn?
A ‘minor burn’
Include any partial-thickness thermal burn covering up to 15% of total body surface area in adults or 10% in children, that does not affect a critical area
Includes a deep partial-thickness burn covering up to 1% of the body
What is a critical area for a burn?
Face
Hands
Feet
Perineum
Genitalia
Crossing joints
Circumferential burn
What is a circumferential burn?
When the entire circumference of a limb (or trunk, neck, digits) is burned
Has the potential to constrict underlying tissues as skin is inelastic
What is a complex burn?
A ‘major burn’
Includes:
- all electrical & chemical burns
- all thermal burn injuries affecting critical areas
- any thermal burns covering >15% of the total body surface area in adults or >10% in children
What is included in ‘thermal burns’?
Scalds
Flame injuries
Contact burns
What are electrical burns?
When electricity flows through the body from an entry point to an exit point
Heat energy from the electrical current damages tissue along its path of flow
Extent of tissue damage is determined by the voltage of the current
What are chemical burns?
Contact with corrosive agents
Such as acids, alkalis, and organic products
Which people are at increased risk of burn injury?
Elderly people
People with reduced mental capacity or those who may not recognise or react to a dangerous situation
People with reduced mobility
People with sensory impairment which may prevent a quick response to injury
How long do superficial epidermal burns typically take to heal?
7 days with conservative management
Dont result in scarring
How long do superficial dermal burns typically take to heal?
14 days with conservative management
Do not result in scarring
Examining to assess burn severity?
Location and size of burn
Extent of burn - expressed as total body surface area
Depth of burn - may increase with time so reassess after 24-72 hours
Skin - Colour changes, blisters, CRT, pain
Methods for estimating total body surface area?
The Lund and Browder method
Wallace’s rule of Nines
Rule of Palm
What is the Lund and Browder method for assessing burns?
This is a chart with an outline of a person divided into several regions, each represented by a number.
What is Wallace’s Rule of Nines method for assessing burns?
This estimates the adult’s total body surface area using multiples of 9 representing different areas of the body
Head & neck - 9%
Each lower extremity - 18%
Each upper extremity - 9%
Anterior torso - 18%
Posterior torso - 18%
Palmar surface of hand - 1%
What is the rule of palm method for assessing burns?
This assumes that the palm of the person who is burned is about 1% of the body
It can be used as a guide for small or scattered burns
What are the 3 types of superficial partial-thickness burns?
Superficial epidermal burns
Superficial dermal burns
Deep dermal burns
What are full-thickness burns?
Burns that extend through all the layers of the skin and into the subcutaneous tissues
(I.e. third degree burns)
What are “fourth-degree burns”?
Severe full thickness burns - burns that extend into muscle and bone
Skin examination in superficial epidermal burns?
Skin is red and painful
No blisters
Cap refill blanches but rapidly refills
Skin examination in superficial dermal burns?
Skin is red or pale pink
Painful
Blistering
Cap refill blanches but regains colour slowly
Skin examination in deep dermal burns?
Skin is dry, blotchy or mottled, red
Painful
May be blisters
Cap refill does not blanch
Skin examination in full thickness burns?
Skin is white, brown or black
No blisters
Dry, leathery, waxy
Painless
Cap refill does not blanch
