Burns Picture Description Aims Dressings Other Considerations painful, may be mottled Manage exudate Promote Patients with con- PARTIAL THICKNESS comitant illnesses e.g. with increased depth healing BURN diabetes, immuno- (2nd Degree) suppressed may warrant referral Consider dietician referral for nutritional Management subsequent support to assessment in Consider need for Secondary Care: psychological support Low adherent Donor site Usually dressing left in Foam Antimicrobial Heat injury extending to place for upto 10 days with Low adherent/ absorbent all skin layers and dressing Monitor for: possibly subcutaneous Specialist treatment in FULL THICKNESS BURN Refer to A&E/ Burns unit “Strike through” Dressing tissue of muscle and burns unit may include if: slippage Indications of (3rd Degree) bone removal of dead tissue in Chemical/electrical/ infection hand and face burns Dry, charred leathery preparation for grafting or Affecting dermis and Fully circumferential surgery epidermis burns due to possibility Minimise risk of infection of causing constricture Usually red wet and
Burns Picture Description Aims Dressings Other Considerations PARTIAL THICKNESS BURN (2nd Degree) FULL THICKNESS BURN (3rd Degree) Affecting dermis and epidermis Usually red wet and painful, may be mottled with increased depth Heat injury extending to all skin layers and possibly subcutaneous tissue of muscle and bone Dry, charred leathery Minimise risk of infection Manage exudate Promote healing Specialist treatment in burns unit may include removal of dead tissue in preparation for grafting or surgery Management subsequent to assessment in Secondary Care: Low adherent Foam Antimicrobial Refer to A&E/ Burns unit if: Chemical/electrical/ hand and face burns Fully circumferential burns due to possibility of causing constricture Patients with con- comitant illnesses e.g. diabetes, immuno- suppressed may warrant referral Consider dietician referral for nutritional support Consider need for psychological support Donor site Usually dressing left in place for upto 10 days with Low adherent/ absorbent dressing Monitor for: “Strike through” Dressing slippage Indications of infection