Definition of Burn | CHAPTER 21 | Fundamentals of Nursing

Definition of Burn – Nursing is a profession within the healthcare sector focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life. Nurses may be differentiated from other healthcare providers by their approach to patient care, training, and scope of practice. Nurses practice in many specialisms with differing levels of prescriber authority.

Many nurses provide care within the ordering scope of physicians, and this traditional role has shaped the public image of nurses as care providers. However, nurses are permitted by most jurisdictions to practice independently in a variety of settings depending on training level. In the postwar period, nurse education has undergone a process of diversification towards advanced and specialized credentials, and many of the traditional regulations and provider roles are changing.

Nurses develop a plan of care, working collaboratively with physicians, therapists, the patient, the patient’s family, and other team members, that focus on treating illness to improve quality of life. Nurses may help coordinate the patient care performed by other members of an interdisciplinary healthcare team such as therapists, medical practitioners, and dietitians. Nurses provide care both interdependently, for example, with physicians, and independently as nursing professionals.

Definition of Burn

According to WHO (World Health Organization) “A burn is an injury to the skin or other organic tissue primarily caused by heat or due to radiation, radioactivity, electricity, friction or contact with chemicals. Skin injuries due to ultraviolet radiation, radioactivity, electricity or chemicals, as well as respiratory damage resulting from smoke inhalation, are also considered to be burns”

Burns may be defined as injuries resulting from the application of dry heat (e.g. flame and heated solid substances) or chemical substances to the external or internal surfaces of the body resulting in more or less destruction of the tissues.

Or

Damage to the skin or other body parts caused by extreme heat, flame, contact with heated objects, or chemicals is called burn. Burn depth is generally categorized as first, second, or third degree Burns can be very painful and may cause:

• Red or Peeling Skin
• Blisters
• Swelling
• White or Charred Skin

Definition of Scalds

Scald is a form of thermal burn injury resulted from heated fluids such as boiling water or steam. Most scalds are considered first or second degree burns, but third degree burns can result, especially with prolonged contact.

Scalds may be defined as injuries produced by the application of moist heat (e.g. a liquid at or near its boiling point or in its gaseous form such as steam) to the body.

Classification of Burn

Burn may be classified as-vita

I. According to depth of tissue damage

II. According to cause

III.According to zone/extent(rule of nine)

According to the depth of tissue damage:

a) Traditional :

• First degree : Includes only the outer layer of skin, the epidermis. Skin is usually red and very painful
• Second degree : Second-degree burns involve the epidermis and part of the dermis layer of skin. The burn site appears red, blistered, and may be swollen and painful.
• Third degree : All layers of the skin are destroyed. Extends into the subcutaneous tissues .
• Fourth degree : Same as third degree but with damage to deeper structures such as tendons, joints and bone.

b) Modern terminology :

• Superficial : Involves only the outer epidermis; heals without scarring.
• Superficial Partial-Thickness : Involves epidermis & the upper portion of the dermis; pain & blisters, heals with min to no scarring.
• Deep-Partial Thickness : Complete destruction of the epidermis & the majority of the dermis; blisters, edema; may heals with hypertrophic scars & keloids.
• Full-Thickness : Complete destruction of the epidermis & dermis along with partial damage of the subcutaneous fat layer; require grafts & susceptible to infection.
• Sub-dermal : Complete destruction of the epidermis, dermis, & subcutaneous tissue; may involve muscle & bone; often requires surgical intervention.

According to cause

a) Thermal Burn : Caused by conduction or convection Example. Hot liquid, fire or steam

b) Electrical Burn : Caused by the passage of electrical current through the body. There is typically an entrance & an exit wound.

c) Chemical Burn : Occurs when certain chemical compounds come in contact with the body. Example. Sulfuric acid, lye, hydrochloric acid, gasoline.

According to zone/extent

a) Zone of Coagulation : Area of greatest destruction, tissue necrosis, irreversible cell damage

b) Zone of Stasis : Damaged tissue, area of less severe injury that possesses reversible damage and surrounds the Zone of Coagulation

c) Zone of Hyperemia : Pink, no cell death, the area surrounding the Zone of Stasis that presents with inflammation, but will fully recover without any intervention or permanent damage.

Difference of First, Second and Third Degree Burn

Burn injury is the destruction of the layers of the skin and associated structures.

Causes of Burn

Many things can cause burns, including:

1. Fire
2. Hot liquid or steam
3. Hot metal, glass or other objects
4. Electrical currents
5. Radiation from X-rays or radiation therapy to treat cancer
6. Sunlight or ultraviolet light from a sunlamp or tanning bed
7. Chemicals such as strong acids, lye, paint thinner or gasoline
8. Flames
9. Lighting
10. Friction

Causes of Scalds

1. Boiling water
2. Steam from boiling water
3. Any other hot liquid such as tea, coffee, hot oils etc.

Sign and Symptoms of Burn

1. Blisters
2. Pain (the degree of pain is not related to the severity of the burn the most serious burns can be painless)
3. Peeling skin
4. Shock (watch for pale and clammy skin, weakness, bluish lips and fingernails, and a drop in alertness)
5. Red skin
6. Swelling
7. White or charred skin
8. Charred mouth, burned-lips
9. Burns on the head, face, or neck
10. Wheezing
11. Change in voice
12. Difficulty breathing, coughing
13. Singed nose hairs or eyebrows
14. Dark, carbon-stained mucus

Full thickness burn and sub-dermal burn are so dangerous because

• Full thickness burn completely destroys the epidermis & dermis along with partial damage of the
• subcutaneous fat layer. Sub-dermal burn completely destroys of the epidermis, dermis, & subcutaneous tissue; may involve muscle & bone.

Burn is dangerous because

1. Burn injury increases the risk of sepsis which is life threatening infection that rapidly travels
through bloodstream.

2. There are lots of complications may arise due to burn on the basis of we can say that burn is so dangerous. The following reasons are given below-

• Burn can damage blood vessel
• Chance of massive infection
• Scarring
• Bone and joint problem
• Pneumonia
• Patient may goes in shock
• Acute GIT ulcers
• Cerebral damage

3. Regarding those reasons we can say that burn is so dangerous because of burn a patient may face those life threatening complications.

Calculation of Body Surface Area of Burn Patient

The rule of nines assesses the percentage of burn and is used to help guide treatment decisions including fluid resuscitation and becomes part of the guidelines to determine transfer to a burn unit.

Difference between Superficial and Deep Burn

Complications of Burn

Immediate complications

1. Shock

• Hypovolemia,
• Neurologic

2. Fluid overload

3. Renal dysfunction

4. Hemoglobinuria

5. Stress gastro duodenal ulcers

6. Pulmonary dysfunction

7. Hypothermia

8. Multiple organ dysfunction

9. Pneumonia

10. Laryngeal edema

11. ARDS

Delayed complications

1. Wound infection

2. Septicemia

3. Protein loosing enteropathy

4. Cerebral damage

5. Failed skin graft

Late complications

1. Scarring

• hypertrophic,
• keloid

2. Contractures-limbs, neck

3. Disfigurement

4. Functional disability

5. Posttraumatic stress

6. Post burn contracture

7. Marjolins ulcer

To prevent complication, following measures should be taken

• Burn dressing every alternative day for 3 weeks
• High protein diet
• Physiotherapy to prevent contracture
• Psychological support
• Vitamin C supplementation
• Diuretics to prevent renal failure
• Eschrotomy in case of deep burn

FIRST DEGREE BURNS

• Injuries are superficial/ mild
• Swelling and redness of the injuries area
• Pain develops
• No blister seen
• Burned area becomes white on touch
• Takes 3-6 days to heal

First Aid /Treatment of First Degree Burn

1. Remove patient from heat source

2. Remove the burnt clothing

3. Run cool water over burnt area

4. Gently clean the injured area

5. Gently dry

6. Apply anti biotic such as Silver Sulphadiazine

7. Use a sterile bandage to cover burns

8. Send the victim to the nearest hospital as soon as possible.

9. Take tetanus vaccination if required

SECOND DEGREE BURNS

• Burns extend to middle skin layer, dermis
• Swelling, redness and pain observed
• Burnt area may turn white on touched
• Blisters develop that ooze a clear fluid
• Scars may develop
• Restrict movement
• Dehydration may occur
• Healing time varies, depends on extend of injury

First Aid/Treatment of Second Degree Burn

1. Clean the affected area thoroughly

2. Gently dry

3. Apply anti biotic over effected area

4. Make the patient lie down

5. Keep burnt body part at a raised level

6. Skin grafting may be required

7. Physical therapy may be essential to aid mobility

8. Splints may be used to rest affected joints

9. Hospitalization is essential

THIRD DEGREE BURNS

• Damage occur to all three skin layers
• Destroys adjacent hair follicles sweat glands, nerve ending
• Lack of pain due to destroyed nerves
• Injuries area does not does not turn white on touch
• No blisters observed
• Swelling occurs
• Skin develops lathery texture
• Discoloration of skin observed
• Scars develop
• Crusty surfaces (Esch. rs) develop impairs circulation
• Dehydration occurs re ulting in shock
• Symptom may worsen with time
• Disfigurement may res it
• Healing depends on extend of injury
• 90% body surface injury results in death c
• 60% injury in elderly, fatal

First Aid/Treatment Third Degree Burn

1. Required immediate Hospital care

2. Dehydration treated through intravenous fluid supply

3. Oxygen is administered

4. Eschars are surgically opened.

5. Periodically run clean cool water over burns

6. Nutritious diet helps to heal quickly

7. Regular monitoring essential

8. Mental depression treated by anti-depressant.

First Aid Management of Burn Patients

1.  Remove of patient from source of bum.

2. Remove of clothing. If cloth adheres, do not remove it. Cut round it and leave the adhering clothing for the doctor to remove.

3. Check and control ABCDES:

• A- Airway control.
• B-Breathing and ventilation.
• C-Circulation.
• D-Disability (neurological).
• E – Exposure with environmental control

4. patient warm and quite and reassure him.

5. In case of superficial bum use liquid paraffin, oil, Vaseline, white part of egg

6. Clean with saline water (Normal saline).

7. Give plenty of fluid by month or I/V (Intra Venous) infusion.

8. In modem theory only pour cold water over the bum area,

9. Cover the bum with sterile dressings as quickly as possible.

10. Don’t use absorbent cotton directly on a bum.

11. Blister should be opened only by doctor.

12. Strict asepsis in all aspects.

13. Emergency sedation.

14. Fluid replacement therapy.

15. Treatment for shock.

16. If necessary send for medical aid or arrange immediate transport to hospital.

Nursing Management of Burn

A. Initial assessment :

1. History taking : Age of patient, time of burn, type of burn, site of burn, possibility of smoke inhalation.

2. Physical examination :

• Assessment of vital signs: pulse, BP, temperature, respiratory rate.
• Assessment of extent of burn by rule of nine: (please see above)
• Assessment of depth, degree of burn: Partial thickness or full 1 degree, 2nd degree, 3nd degree

B. Initial management :

The principle of managing an acute burn injury are the same as in any acute trauma case:

• A- Airway control.
• B-Breathing and ventilation
• C- Circulation
• D- Disability
• E- Exposure with environmental control.
• F-Fluid resuscitation
• Analgesic
• Antibiotic

C. Fluid replacement :

1. In ” 24 hours: Crystalloid solution- Hartmans solution.

Dose :

• The amount of fluid volume in ml 1 24 hour 4ml/kg body wt% burnt surface are.
• Adult: 4ml/kg/ percent of burned surface area
• Child 3ml/kg/percent of burned su t of burned surface area.

Amount :

• fluid is given in 1″ 8 hours.
• ¼ fluid is given in 2nd 8 hours
• ¼ fluid is given in 3d 8 hours

2. In 2nd 24 hours: colloid solution added with crystalloid solution e.g-plasma, albumin, dextran

• Dose : 0.35-1ml/kg/percent of burned surface area.
• Route : Through central venous line by central venous catheter. E.g. cubital-fossa, supra-clavicular fossa, groin.

Example :

If weight is 70 kg and burn is 30% :

1. Total fluid needed = 4 x 70 x 30ml =8400ml 18 hours 4200ml, 2nd 8 hours 2100 ml, 3d 8 hours = 2100 ml

• Blood transfusion (in children when burn is> 25% and in adult >25-30%) or when more than 25% blood volume is lost in adult & in children when 10-25% blood volume is lost.
• IVV fluid is given in case of children: 10% burn & in adult: >25% burn.

D. Local treatment :

• Strict asepsis – local antiseptic cream (1% silver sulphadiazine)
• Clean room with temperature 75-80° F & low humidity
• No dressing
• Skin grafting: In full thickness burn

E. Subsequent Management to prevent Complication

• Burn dressing every alternative day for 3 week
• High protein diet
• Physiotherapy to prevent contracture
• Psychological support
• Vitamin C supplementation
• Diuretics to prevent renal failure

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