Thermal Injury

thermal electrical injuries:

This man accidentally grabbed a high voltage electrical line, producing the entrance wound injury seen above on the palm of the hand, with subsequent soft tissue damage and swelling extending to the forearm. The appearance is similar to a localized burn.

Below on the dorsum of the hand can be seen the wounds produced as the current exited the hand.

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Thermal burn injuries:

1)

can be classified as "full thickness" or "partial thickness" based upon the ability of the skin to regenerate.

In the partial thickness burn seen here, there are still skin adnexa in the dermis that are viable and from which new epithelium could grow.

2)

Thermal burn injuries

can occur from hot objects or liquids.

Seen here is an amputated hand that was rendered non-viable by a severe scalding injury with exposure to hot water

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3)

Thermal burn injuries

occur with a hot local environment.

The burned skin seen here over the torso and head of a child occurred from a fire.

The treatment and prognosis depend to a great extent upon the extent of the burn injury -- the total body surface area (TBSA) involved.

Other factors include age of the patient, underlying diseases,

and the presence of an "inhalation injury" from breathing in hot gases,

which typically occurs with fires in an enclosed space such as a building.