BEYOND THE BURN
Glossary of burn terms
September 14, 2008
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TANYA TALAGA
STAFF REPORTER
First-degree burn: When the skin’s outer layer or epidermis - where flat, squamous cells keep out pollutants and ultraviolet light - is burned and appears red. Also called partial thickness burn.
Second-degree burn: A burn penetrates through the epidermis to the dermis, the skin’s lower layer containing blood and lymphatic vessels, nerves and sweat glands. The skin is red, peeled off and underneath the tissue looks raw, red and puffy. Some parts can appear dry and white.
Third-degree burn: Deep burns that penetrate through the dermis. The skin appears charred black and yellow. Also called full-thickness burn.
Escharotomy: A surgical procedure involving long, deep incisions through the dead tissue following a severe burn to relieve swelling.
Skin grafting: The transplanting of healthy skin or a skin substitute over a burn or non-healing wound.
Autograft: Healthy skin of a severely burned patient, called a “donor site,” is used to replace the same patient’s lost skin. Grafts taken from a patient’s own body are the best option to prevent rejection.
Allograft: Skin transplanted from a cadaver or dead donor. Donated skin is kept in a hospital skin bank.
Artificial skin: Developed by Boston researchers, artificial skin is made of shark cartilage, collagen from cowhide and silicone netting. It is meant as a temporary measure.
Debriding: Removal of dead or damaged tissue, dirt and cellular debris from a burn to prevent infection and allow for healing.
Dermatome: An instrument resembling a cheese slicer used for removing burned skin.
Hypertrophic scars: Irregular and exaggerated skin growth that result from burns and can cause deformities.
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