Mr. Campbell, a 25-year-old construction worker, is admitted to a burn unit after a fire in a construction site. Initial assessment reveals burn injuries involving the anterior and posterior aspects of the upper extremities. The injured surfaces are black in color and dry in texture. Tissue with fat exposure and edema are noted. Mr. Campbell reports minimal pain. The nurse assessing Mr. Campbell classifies these integumentary injuries as:
Explanation
Answer: C - Mr. Campbell sustained full-thickness burns. Full thickness burns are characterized by deep red, brown or black burned sites, dry injured surfaces, edema, tissue disruption with fat exposure, and minimal or no pain. Superficial- and partial-thickness burns are painful due to partially injured nerve endings. Full- and deep full-thickness burns cause minimal or no pain because the nerve endings are completely damaged. Deep full-thickness burns are characterized by burn injuries to the muscle and bone, absence of edema and blisters, and a black burned area.
