Burn Injuries
Filed under: car accident | Tags: burn injuries, burn classifications, first-degree burns, second-degree burns, third-degree burns, fourth-degree burns, Social Security claims, Social Security Disability Attorney |
Burns are skin injuries that can be caused by electricity, heat, intense light, chemicals, friction or radiation. Usually, burns will affect the skin (dermis and epidermis), but burns can also affect blood vessels, muscle and bone on more rare occasions. Burns are significant injuries since, although common, they can be quite painful and serious burns can be very debilitating, disfiguring and even fatal.
Serious burns will also bring about secondary conditions such as infection, shock, electrolyte imbalance, multiple organ dysfunction and respiratory problems. Larger burns that were, in the past, fatal can be treated utilizing modern medical technology that has been developed over the last sixty years. This has improved the prognosis of serious burn victim – especially among children and younger adults.
There are several different classification systems, but the traditional method of classifying burns involves dividing them into the three categories of first, second and third degree burns. This system is currently being replaced, however, by one that takes into account the need for surgical intervention. This system classifies burns as; superficial, superficial partial-thickness, deep partial-thickness and full-thickness.
Descriptions of traditional burn classifications are:
• First-Degree Burns – minor burns that are usually limited to a redness of the skin with only minor pain associated with the burn. Sunburns are usually placed within this burn classification.
• Second-Degree Burns – are defined by redness that includes blistering of the skin at the burn site. The amount of pain experienced will be directly related to the amount of nerve damage involved.
• Third-Degree Burns - are severe burns where the epidermal layer of the skin is lost and there will be damage to the subcutaneous tissue, as well. These burns will result in scar tissue with hair loss and may require surgical procedures in the form of skin grafts.
• Fourth-Degree Burns – are very severe burns that damage tendons, muscles and ligaments. There will be charring and complete damage to the hypodermis and, in some cases; the hypodermis may be completely burned away. The resulting condition may be a life threatening complication known as compartment syndrome. Grafting will most certainly be required, provided the burn (or its complications) doesn’t prove fatal.
Please note that this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice.
For assistance with Social Security claims involving burns, talk to Texas SSI Disability Lawyer today.
