Burns
Written by Rhiana Devadasan
35) Burns. Definition. Types. Classification. Principles of management -
conservative and surgical.
36) Electrical injuries - local and general. Chemical burns.
37) Frost injuries. Definition, types, stages, manifestation, treatment.
Burns = a type of injury to tissue caused by heat, cold, chemicals, radiation, electricity and friction.
Classification of Burns
Based on how deep & severely they penetrate the skin's surface:
- FIRST-DEGREE BURNS (superficial burns)
- Only affects the epidermis (outer layer of the skin)
- Appearance: red, painful, dry. But no blisters.
- Pain lasts for 3 days, then peeling of skin follows
- Effects: long-term tissue damage is rare & usually consists of a change in skin colour
- E.g. mild sunburn (NB: repeated sunburns can cause skin cancer)
- Common burns (light - moderately superficial) are dealt with in ambulatory settings.
- SECOND-DEGREE BURNS (partial thickness burns)
- Involves the epidermis + part of the dermis
- Appearance: red, blistered, may be swollen & painful. Moist texture of skin.
- Lasts for 8 weeks
- SUPERFICIAL PARTIAL THICKNESS BURNS (2A)
- can epithelize & recover spontaneously
- no scarring
- DEEP PARTIAL THICKNESS BURNS (2B)
- scarring
- requires surgical procedures such as skin grafting
- THIRD-DEGREE BURNS (full thickness burns)
- Destruction of the epidermis & dermis + may penetrate the subcutaneous tissue
- Appearance: white, pink or charred colour at burn site
- No pain (since all layers of skin are damaged, skin is insensitive to touch & pressure)
- Scarring is present
- Surgical procedure = amputation
- FOURTH DEGREE BURNS
- Also damages underlying bones, muscles & tendons
- Appearance: black (eschar) and lost
- No sensation in the area, since nerve endings have been destroyed
- Surgical procedure = amputation
- Sometimes can lead to death