Pathology - Burns

BURNS Introduction • Burns are a form of traumatic injury caused by thermal, electrical, chemical, or radioactive agents. –50% to 60% of fire deaths are due to inhalation injury. Pathophysiology • Burn Injury • Physiologic reaction to a burn is similar to the inflammatory process. –Adjacent intact vessels dilate, causing redness and blanching with pressure. –Platelets and leukocytes begin to adhere to the vascular endothelium as an early event in the inflammatory process. Pathophysiology • Increased capillary permeability produces wound edema. • An influx of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and monocytes occurs at the injury site. • Lastly, new capillaries, immature fibroblasts, and newly formed collagen fibrils appear within the wound. Classification of burns • Burn injuries are described according to the depth of the injury and the extent of body surface area injured.  A. Burn Depth • Burn depth determines whether epithelialization will occur. • Burns are classified according to the depth of tissue destruction as