A partial thickness burn appears red, moist, with blisters and is painful. A partial thickness burn is often referred to as a second-degree burn. Deep, partial thickness burns are often pale pink to white and are very painful. The deep, partial thickness burn may require skin grafting to improve function and to prevent excessive scarring. It is not uncommon for deep, partial thickness burns to convert to full thickness or third degree burns.

A full thickness burn, otherwise referred to as a third-degree burn, involves all layers of the skin. A full thickness burn appears dry and leathery and may be white, yellow, or brown in color. The nerve endings are destroyed in a full thickness burn, but the pain will continue. Skin grafting will be required to close this type of wound.

Size of Burn
The percentage of the body burned is determined by one of several methods. At the UI Burn Treatment Center we determine the size of the burn injury based on the areas burned and the age of the patient. A special chart, the Lund & Browder, allows us to determine the exact percentage of the body burned.

Type of Burn
Burns are caused in a variety of circumstances, including exposure to direct heat or flames, flash explosions, steam blasts, and hot water. Contact with hot items, chemicals or electricity are also fairly common causes of the burn injury. Each injury will be a different size and depth and will have its own complications. In other words, every burn is different.

One very common complication, especially of flame injuries, is the inhalation injury. Breathing very hot air or smoke may cause damage to the upper breathing passages or to the lungs. Tissues become very swollen and secrete large amounts of fluid that may interfere with breathing. This can be a serious complication and must be treated very aggressively.

Severity of Burn
Many factors which determine the severity of a burn injury. The size of the burn is a major factor, and also depth of the injury. The age of the patient is another very important factor. Body systems in very young patients or very old patients do not adjust to the burn injury as well as patients in other age groups. The general health of the patient before the burn injury, also plays a role in determining severity, as does the presence or absence of the inhalation injury.

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