Page 1 of 56
PLASTIC SURGERY EXAM REVIEW
2025|ORIGINAL 400 QS&AS|100%
VERIFIED ANSWERS |GRADED A+
what two characteristics are used to describe burns - ..........ANSWER.......1) depth
2) Percentage of body surface area
most common burns - ..........ANSWER.......children: scald burns
adults: flame burns
principles of burn management - ..........ANSWER.......-must keep patient covered
and warm
-adequate fluid resuscitation
-antimicrobial dressings
-tetanus prophylaxis
zone of hyperemia - ..........ANSWER.......vasodilation from inflammation-entirely
viable, cells recover within 7 days, contributes to systemic consequences seen with
major burns
zone of stasis - ..........ANSWER.......decreased perfusion; microvascular sludging
and thrombosis of vessels results in progressive tissue necrosis -> cellular death in
24-28 hours
,Page 2 of 56
Zone of coagulation - ..........ANSWER.......The area of the burn that received the
most severe injury with irreversible cell damage
what is the treatment for circumferential burns - ..........ANSWER.......escharotomy
Rule of 9's - ..........ANSWER.......Head and neck = 9%
Upper Ex = 9% each
Lower Ex = 9% each
Front trunk = 18%
Back trunk = 18%
How to calculate TBSA for patch burns - ..........ANSWER.......surface area covered
by patient's palm (fingers closed) represents approximately 1% of TBSA
First degree burn (aka superficial burns) - ..........ANSWER.......Superficial burns
through only the epidermis.
painful, sensation intact, erythema, blanchable
Superficial-partial thickness burn (second degree) - ..........ANSWER.......extends
into superficial dermis
Painful, sensation intact, erythema, blisters with clear fluid, blanchable, hair
follicles present
Deep-partial thickness burn (second degree) - ..........ANSWER.......Into deep
dermis
,Page 3 of 56
insensate, difficult to distinguish from full thickness, does not blanch, some hair
follicles still attached, softer than full thickness burn
Full thickness burn - ..........ANSWER.......Through epidermis and dermis, injury to
underlying tissue
insensate (nerve endings are destroyed), hard leathery eschar that is black, grey,
white, or cherry red, hairs not attached, may see thrombosed veins
indications for transfer to a burn unit - ..........ANSWER.......patients with partial or
full thickness burns that involve, the hands, feet, genitalia, face, ears, and/or major
joints or perineum
partial thickness burns >20% TBSA in patients aged 10-50
partial thickness burns > 10% in children <10 or adults >50
electrical burns, inhalation injury
Parkland formula - ..........ANSWER.......Method of calculating fluid repletion in
burn patients.
Management principles in burn patients - ..........ANSWER.......Fluid resuscitation
using parkland formula
monitor urine output (insert foley)
, Page 4 of 56
relieve respiratory distress
Escharotomy in circumferential burns
prevent or treat shock (2 large bore IVs)
Tetanus prophylaxis
Cleanse, debride and treat the burn injury (antimicrobial dressings)
Clinical signs and symptoms of an inhalation injury - ..........ANSWER.......injury in
a closed space
facial burn
singed nasal hairs
soot around nares or oral cavity
hoarseness
conjunctivits
tachypnea
carbon particles in sputum
signs of CO poisoning (headache, confusion, coma, arrhthmias)
Burn wound healing first degree - ..........ANSWER.......no scarring usually
complete healing
Burn wound healing superficial partial - ..........ANSWER.......spontaneously re-
epithelialize in 7-14 days from retained epidermal structures +/- skin discoloration
hypertrophic scarring uncommon; grafting rarely required
PLASTIC SURGERY EXAM REVIEW
2025|ORIGINAL 400 QS&AS|100%
VERIFIED ANSWERS |GRADED A+
what two characteristics are used to describe burns - ..........ANSWER.......1) depth
2) Percentage of body surface area
most common burns - ..........ANSWER.......children: scald burns
adults: flame burns
principles of burn management - ..........ANSWER.......-must keep patient covered
and warm
-adequate fluid resuscitation
-antimicrobial dressings
-tetanus prophylaxis
zone of hyperemia - ..........ANSWER.......vasodilation from inflammation-entirely
viable, cells recover within 7 days, contributes to systemic consequences seen with
major burns
zone of stasis - ..........ANSWER.......decreased perfusion; microvascular sludging
and thrombosis of vessels results in progressive tissue necrosis -> cellular death in
24-28 hours
,Page 2 of 56
Zone of coagulation - ..........ANSWER.......The area of the burn that received the
most severe injury with irreversible cell damage
what is the treatment for circumferential burns - ..........ANSWER.......escharotomy
Rule of 9's - ..........ANSWER.......Head and neck = 9%
Upper Ex = 9% each
Lower Ex = 9% each
Front trunk = 18%
Back trunk = 18%
How to calculate TBSA for patch burns - ..........ANSWER.......surface area covered
by patient's palm (fingers closed) represents approximately 1% of TBSA
First degree burn (aka superficial burns) - ..........ANSWER.......Superficial burns
through only the epidermis.
painful, sensation intact, erythema, blanchable
Superficial-partial thickness burn (second degree) - ..........ANSWER.......extends
into superficial dermis
Painful, sensation intact, erythema, blisters with clear fluid, blanchable, hair
follicles present
Deep-partial thickness burn (second degree) - ..........ANSWER.......Into deep
dermis
,Page 3 of 56
insensate, difficult to distinguish from full thickness, does not blanch, some hair
follicles still attached, softer than full thickness burn
Full thickness burn - ..........ANSWER.......Through epidermis and dermis, injury to
underlying tissue
insensate (nerve endings are destroyed), hard leathery eschar that is black, grey,
white, or cherry red, hairs not attached, may see thrombosed veins
indications for transfer to a burn unit - ..........ANSWER.......patients with partial or
full thickness burns that involve, the hands, feet, genitalia, face, ears, and/or major
joints or perineum
partial thickness burns >20% TBSA in patients aged 10-50
partial thickness burns > 10% in children <10 or adults >50
electrical burns, inhalation injury
Parkland formula - ..........ANSWER.......Method of calculating fluid repletion in
burn patients.
Management principles in burn patients - ..........ANSWER.......Fluid resuscitation
using parkland formula
monitor urine output (insert foley)
, Page 4 of 56
relieve respiratory distress
Escharotomy in circumferential burns
prevent or treat shock (2 large bore IVs)
Tetanus prophylaxis
Cleanse, debride and treat the burn injury (antimicrobial dressings)
Clinical signs and symptoms of an inhalation injury - ..........ANSWER.......injury in
a closed space
facial burn
singed nasal hairs
soot around nares or oral cavity
hoarseness
conjunctivits
tachypnea
carbon particles in sputum
signs of CO poisoning (headache, confusion, coma, arrhthmias)
Burn wound healing first degree - ..........ANSWER.......no scarring usually
complete healing
Burn wound healing superficial partial - ..........ANSWER.......spontaneously re-
epithelialize in 7-14 days from retained epidermal structures +/- skin discoloration
hypertrophic scarring uncommon; grafting rarely required
