Burn Care

At the Arnold Luterman Regional Burn Center, our specialists treat every kind of burn.

• Thermal burns - Any burn caused by a heat source is a thermal burn. This includes fire, flames, hot metals and scalds from steam or hot liquids.
• Radiation burns - Radiation damages human skin and can cause radiation burns. As sunlight is a source of radiation, sunburns are a kind of radiation burn. Prolonged exposure to X-rays can also lead to radiation burns.
• Chemical burns - Chemical burns happen when strong acids, alkalis, detergents or solvents come into contact with a person’s skin or eyes. In addition, the inhalation of smoke often produces chemical burns because of the high presence of noxious chemicals.
• Electrical burns - Electricity passing through the body, whether AC (alternating current) or DC (direct current), can cause electrical burns. Lightning strikes can also cause a kind of electrical burn.

How Bad Is My Burn?

Burns are classified in one of three degrees. Those classifications mean:

First degree–A first-degree burn involves damage to the outer layer of skin, the epidermis. Even though the skin cells are damaged, the burn is considered mild and the skin typically heals itself.

Second degree–With a second-degree burn, the damage extends to the lower layer of the skin, the dermis. Generally, a second-degree burn causes pain, redness, blistering and swelling. If shallow enough, chances are good that it will heal well.

Third degree–Third-degree burns go through the dermis and into the deeper tissue, where cells would normally regenerate and replace damaged layers of skin. With third-degree burns, the skin is usually charred.

The Arnold Luterman Regional Burn Center is uniquely equipped to help patients with second- and third-degree burns.

Our Approach To Burn Treatment

USA Health remains on the leading edge of burn care. With advances over the past 20 years, most burns can now be treated on an outpatient basis. Even more serious burns don’t necessarily require skin graft surgery anymore. Regardless of the degree of the injury, we approach treatment at the Arnold Luterman Regional Burn Center with specific steps:

• Assessment–The first step is evaluating the nature and the degree of the injury.
• Wound care–Debridement, or cleaning of the wound, lays the foundation for treating a burn.
• Fluid replacement or resuscitation–A person’s body reacts to injuries, including burns, by swelling. This buildup of fluids can lead to a dangerous inflammatory response. Our specialists carefully administer fluids to help the patient heal while, at the same time, monitoring the patient's intake to prevent a buildup of fluids in the organs.
• Skin substitute and/or skin graft–If a burn is classified as a severe second-degree or a third-degree burn, we look for options to replace the area of skin that cannot heal on its own. Treatment at this point may involve a skin substitute or a skin graft.
• Enhanced recovery pathway–Our team develops a patient-centered plan to get patients home as soon as possible where they can get the rest and nutrition necessary for an optimal recovery.