|
Burn Injury (Effects of Loss of Extracellular
Matrix) continued
-
Treatment
of Burns & their Outcome
|
-
SUPERFICIAL
SECOND DEGREE OR PARTIAL THICKNESS BURNS
Definition:
Second degree burns are defined as those burns
in which the entire epidermis and variable portions of
the dermis layer are heat destroyed.
A superficial second degree (partial thickness)
burn involves heat injury to the upper third of the
dermis leaving a good blood supply.
This depth of burn is comparable to a split
thickness skin graft donor site.
Appearance:
The microvessels perfusing this area are injured
resulting in the leakage of large amounts of plasma
which in turn lifts off the heat-destroyed epidermis,
causing blister formation.
The blisters will continue to increase in size
in the postburn period as cell and protein breakdown
occurs. A
light pink, wet-appearing very painful wound is
seen as blisters are disrupted.
Frequently, the epidermis does not lift off the
dermis for 12 to 24 hours and what appears initially
to be a first degree is actually a second degree burn.
Outcome: Despite
loss of the entire basal layer of the epidermis, a
burn of this depth will heal in 7 to 10 days if
non-infected due repopulation of the epithelial cells
that are also present in skin appendages, anchored
deep in the dermis.
Minimal to no scarring is expected to occur.
Dryness of the wound surface as well as some
antibiotic creams will slow the healing rate.
|
Figure 2:
Hot Water (Superficial) |
|
 |
|
Figure 3:
Superficial Dermal Burn |
| |
Prev
Next
|
