Surgical Questions and Answers

Free Medical and Surgical Questions And Answers

5. What are the characteristics of a full thickness burn?

Correct answer:

Full thickness burns completely destroy the skin. There may be initial blistering but this is soon replaced by a coagulum or slough; more often this is present from the onset in an intense deep burn. Unlike the more superficial burns, this slough separates only slowly over 3-4 weeks, leaving an underlying surface or granulation tissue. Very small deep burns may heal from an ingrowth of epithelium from adjacent healthy skin; more extensive burns, unless grafted, heal by dense scar tissue with consequent contracture and deformity.