BURNS

DEFINITION
Burn is any damage to the skin and/or other
organs in the body induced by excessive heat,
chemicals, electricity and radiation.

CLASSIFICATION

Causes:
Thermal

Fire
Heat
Steam
Cold thermal injury

Electricity
Chemicals
Radiation

Severity
Mild
Moderate
Severe

Depth
1st

degree
2nd degree
3rd degree
4th degree

DEPTH

Partial-thickness burns

First degree

Superficial and deep

partial

Second degree

Full-thickness burns

Third degree

BURNS
Superficial partial-thickness injury
Thin-walled fluid blisters form
quickly
Nerves may be exposed to air when
blisters break
Tactile and pain receptors intact,
thus extreme pain
Healing within 3-4 weeks, scarring
unusual

BURNS
Deep partial-thickness injury
Entire dermis
Wounds appear waxy white
Takes weeks to heal
Autografts
Hypertrophic scarring,
poor functional and cosmetic
results

BURNS
Full-thickness injury
Epidermis, dermis, underlying tissue
Perhaps muscle and bone, too (4th
degree?)
Elasticity destroyed wound looks
dry, leathery
Oedema compromised circulation
of circumferential burns
Escharotomies cutting through
burned skin to relieve pressure
Painless

COMPLICATIONS

Infection:
Local
Septicaemia

Dehydration/tissue hypoxia
Hypovalaemic

shock

Acidosis
Circulatory

failure
Multi-organ failure

Electrolyte imbalances
Seizures

in children
Cardiac electrical disorders

Myoglobin and Hb induced acute renal failure

COMPLICATIONS

Hypothermia
Inhalation of smokes and toxic substances:
Suffocation
Pulmonary

complications:

Aspiration pneumonia
Pulmonary oedema
Respiratory failure

Neurological

disorders

Keloids
Contracture
Psychosocial problems:
Disfiguration
Loss

and distortion

of job
Depression
Suicidal attempts

HYPERTROPHIC SCARRING

APPLICATION OF CULTURED EPITHELIAL AUTOGRAFTS

FIRST AID FOR BURNS

Call 111 immediately

Remove the victim safely

Dont try to be a hero, your safety is also important.

Breathing and airway:

Remove

constricting objects such as jewelleries ,

neck ties, etc.
Keep the airway patent

Use cold water repeatedly

Consider

hypothermia

Dont use butter, onion

topical antibiotics

PREVENTION

Education
Safe handling of corrosive and flammable
substances
Keep

them out of reach of children

No candles in bedroom

Keep your smoke alarm maintained

Keep first aid toolkits
Dont use water to put out fire caused by
boiling oil
Always have an exit plan

REFERENCES

Porth, C. M. (2007). Essentials of pathophysiology: Concepts of

Altered Health States. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.

Springhouse Corporation. (2001). Handbook of

pathophysiology. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.

Saladin, K. S. (2004). Anatomy & Physiology: The unity of form

and function (3rd ed). New York: McGraw-Hill

Tortora, G. J. & Derrickson, B. H. (2006). Principles of

anatomy and physiology (11th ed). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley &
Sons.

http://www.staphy.com/Clinical-photos.aspx

http://emedicine.medscape.com

http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Cellulitis.htm