One of the most difficult cases that doctors receive in the hospital's emergency department are cases of third-degree burns, and here we are not talking about just a simple superficial burn, but rather a life-threatening condition if the injured person does not receive urgent and accurate medical care immediately. Therefore, in this article, we will learn about the symptoms of third-degree burns, their causes, and the best treatment methods approved within Al-Mousa Specialist Hospital.
What are third degree burns?
Third-degree burns are one of the most difficult and dangerous types of burns to which the skin is exposed, as they affect the deep inner layers of the skin and cause complete damage to them. They also extend to include fat and nerves, causing the person to lose feeling in the affected area completely. This condition cannot heal automatically, but rather requires precise and rapid medical intervention.
Symptoms of third degree burns
We now learn about 6 symptoms of third-degree burns, which greatly help in diagnosing burn cases, including:
1. Loss of pain sensation
As we mentioned, third-degree skin burns cause severe damage to nerve endings, which results in loss of pain sensation in the affected area despite the depth of the burn, but this does not prevent the feeling of pain in the surrounding areas and tissues.
2. Skin color change
Change in skin color is one of the most prominent symptoms, and it is known to dermatologists that the color of the skin after a burn shows the extent of the damage that has occurred to the layers of the skin. The affected area is mostly white, waxy due to tissue damage, or gray, or charred black if the skin was burned by fire.
3. Skin texture after burning
The skin after a third-degree burn usually feels very rough and tight and lacks elasticity, and sometimes it feels hard and stiff and does not return to normal after being touched or pressed.
4. Swelling in the affected area
The affected area is exposed to severe inflammation and develops over time into clear swelling as a result of fluid leakage from the damaged vessels into the skin tissue.
5. No bubbles appear
Unlike first- and second-degree burns, no water bubbles appear in third-degree burns because the damage and destruction occurs reaches deep tissues, which cannot form bubbles.
6. Difficulty in wound healing
Third-degree burns heal only with great difficulty due to damage to the skin cells responsible for renewing the layers of the skin, so the patient needs surgical treatment, which we will learn about in detail later.
Learn about: How to rebuild skin after deep burns using the latest methods and techniques
Causes of third degree burns
There are many causes of third-degree burns, including:
- Exposure to very hot liquids or objects such as boiling oil or molten metals.
- Burning chemicals such as harsh cleaning agents that penetrate the skin and cause deep damage.
- Excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays or radiation therapy causing deep burns.
- Injury to high electrical currents, such as exposure to an electric shock that causes deep skin tissue burns.
How to diagnose third degree burns?
Third-degree burns can be diagnosed in several medical ways by specialized dermatologists, including:
- Skin examination: Through a clinical examination and evaluation of the condition of the skin, its color and texture, and whether or not there is peeling and redness, the burn can be diagnosed in principle.
- Evaluation of pain sensation:
Usually, a third-degree burn patient does not feel pain in the affected area, as we mentioned, so the doctor distinguishes one degree of burn from another by assessing the extent to which the injured person feels the burn area.
- Response test:
The doctor touches the affected area and, according to the patient's reaction, determines whether the nerves are damaged or not.
- Estimating the depth of the injury and the percentage of burn:
Through clinical examination, symptoms, previous tests, and x-rays, the doctor can determine the depth of the injury and the extent of skin damage, which helps him estimate the area of the burn and determine its degree and severity.
Treatment of third degree burns
Treatment of third-degree burns takes place in several stages due to the sensitivity and seriousness of the injury. We at Al-Mousa Hospital are always ready to receive burn cases immediately and without any restrictions to begin a rapid and effective treatment program, which includes:
1.First aid and emergency care
After removing the source of the burn and in the first moments of the person suffering from severe burns, he must be transferred immediately to the emergency department for first aid and emergency care, taking these important tips:
- Do not remove clothing that is attached to the body until skin irritation occurs.
- Avoid using ice or even cold water because the body is in thermal shock.
Emergency care for the patient begins upon entering the emergency department by giving intravenous fluids to replace fluids lost due to burns and preventing dehydration, along with giving strong analgesics to relieve pain, and in some cases we give the injured person sedatives to ease the shock.
Here we must praise the effective role played by the Emergency and First Aid Department at Al-Mousa Hospital in Al-Ahsa, so that it has become one of the best departments in the Kingdom in managing urgent cases. The department can accommodate large numbers of injured or critical cases because it contains medical personnel and preparations that enable it to receive disaster and crisis cases.
2. Surgical treatment
After cleaning and disinfecting the wounds resulting from burns, the injured person undergoes surgical treatment, which consists of:
- Skin grafting operations:
Meaning that healthy skin tissue is taken from other areas of the body, such as the thigh, and transplanted into the area affected by burns. The operations are divided into complete or partial grafting depending on the type and depth of the burns. - Plastic surgeries:
They are also called reconstructive surgeries because they aim to rebuild the natural shape of the grandfather and reduce the serious effects and scars caused by burns. The Surgery Department at Al Mousa Specialist Hospital chooses the appropriate operation for the injured person according to the depth of the burn and the area of the affected area.
3.Wound care
Doctors recommend some important instructions after surgeries that treat third-degree burns, which are as follows:
- Change bandages on wounds regularly and sterilize them to prevent infection.
- Use some antimicrobial and anti-infective creams and ointments, such as “Salphadine.”
- Daily follow-up with the specialist doctor to determine the progress of wound healing after the operation.
4.Physical therapy and rehabilitation
Some people sometimes overlook physical therapy and rehabilitation as an important and essential treatment option in treating the effects of third-degree burns. Therefore, we nominate to you the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Center at Al Mousa Specialist Hospital for the following treatment program:
- Joint mobilization exercises in case of burns to treat stiffness and muscle problems.
- Conducting massage therapy sessions is beneficial in improving blood circulation in the body and reducing scars and wounds.
- Rehabilitation and occupational therapy to strengthen muscles that are naturally weakened due to lack of movement after burns.
- Doctors at the Al-Moussa Specialist Rehabilitation Center recommend the importance of using compression braces for months to prevent the formation of any thick scars at the site of the burn.
5. Psychological support for the patient
One of the best things that can be provided to third-degree burn victims is psychological support throughout the treatment journey, and this is exactly what we provide at the Rafah Psychiatry Center at Al-Mousa Specialist Hospital in Al-Ahsa, and among our most important programs are:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy to help accept body image and deal with negative emotions during treatment.
- Join support groups that bring together burn survivors to share their experiences.
- Bringing back smiles and hope in life to burn victims and rebuilding their self-confidence, especially with injuries to the face or visible areas of the body.
Book your consultation now at مركز الجلدية والتجميل At Al Mousa Specialist Hospital.
Healing time for third degree burns
The recovery period for third-degree burns takes a long period, up to a number of months, depending on the severity of the injury and the area of the burns. Here, of course, we are talking about recovery with follow-up treatment without neglect, which requires surgical intervention. Also, physical therapy and psychological support programs may be prolonged until the patient becomes normal from a physical and neurological standpoint, and the ability to restore body functions.
Frequently asked questions
Follow along with us, dear reader, to answer the most important frequently asked questions that come to us from followers of the Al-Mousa website:
What are the most serious degrees of burns?
The most dangerous degrees of burns are third- and fourth-degree burns because the layers of skin are subjected to severe damage with loss of nerve sensation, and the fourth degree is the most dangerous because it extends to the muscles and bones and becomes life-threatening.
Are third degree burns dangerous?
Yes, it is one of the most dangerous types of burns because it affects not only the superficial layers of the skin, but also reaches the deep and inner layers, even reaching the nerves as well, to the point that the patient may completely lose sensation in the affected area.
Are third degree burns painful?
Yes, third-degree burns are characterized by pain because they are deep and serious, and the pain is not directly at the site of the injury due to nerve damage as a result of the burn, but pain appears around the affected area and surrounding tissues.
Never lose hope, even if third-degree burns are serious, there is always hope for recovery. If your loved one suffers a sudden injury, immediately contact the Emergency and First Aid Department at Al-Mousa Specialist Hospital on its numbers, and you will find an elite group of the best specialized doctors waiting for you to do the necessary work and begin an integrated treatment journey from the first moment. Your safety is our responsibility.
المصادر:
Third-Degree Burn – clevelandclinic
