Burns are among the most serious injuries a person can sustain, especially when the damage affects not only the top layer of skin but also the underlying tissues and muscle. With a minor or even moderate burn, patients can heal up in a matter of days or weeks. However, serious burn injuries can take months from which to heal, with potential complications that can last a lifetime. Some experts believe these long-term effects can be so serious that they warrant classification as a chronic disease.

A 2019 study in Burns & Trauma discusses focusing on burn injuries as chronic disease in order to develop better strategies for long-term patient care and improved health outcomes. The researchers state in their abstract:

Population studies have linked burn injury with increased risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, nervous system disorders, diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders, gastrointestinal disease, infections, anxiety and depression. The wide range of secondary pathologies indicates that burn can cause sustained disruption of homeostasis, presenting new challenges for post-burn care. Understanding burn injury as a chronic disease will improve patient care, providing evidence for better long-term support and monitoring of patients.

They also reveal that burn injuries are a major global public health issue, with “an estimated 11 million incidences globally per year resulting in more than 300,000 deaths.”

Complications and chronic symptoms from burn injuries

We’ve talked about the effects of burn injuries before, but the researchers from the study went into much more detail, listing some of the long-term pathophysiology (or abnormalities) associated with severe burns:

• Chronic persistent pain
• Hypermetabolism
• Hypertrophic scarring
• Increased mortality rates
• Increased risk of disease, including:
  • Cancer
  • Cardiovascular and circulatory system disease
  • Diabetes
  • Gastrointestinal disease
  • Infectious disease
  • Musculoskeletal diseases
  • Nervous system conditions
• Mental health disorders, like PTSD

Regarding the chronic and persistent pain, they noted that a majority of burn patients suffer pain for years or even decades after their initial injury: “In a survey of 358 patients with severe burns, 52% of respondents reported suffering ongoing burn-related pain, despite their injuries occurring an average of 11 years prior.”

What causes severe burn injuries?

Severe burns – or any burns that cover a major area of the body or are on the face – require immediate medical attention. These types of injuries are most commonly caused by:

• Fire/flames
• Chemical burns
• Electrical burns
• Scalding (like from steam or hot liquid)

People often experience burn injuries in serious auto accidents, as a result of a defective product, or work accident.

What are the symptoms of a severe burn injury?

If you or a loved one have sustained a burn injury, it’s vital to understand all the symptoms in order to receive the proper treatment. Severe burns may not be painful due to damaged nerve endings and the injured person may fail to seek treatment in a timely manner. Additionally, airway burns are notoriously difficult to diagnose without the help of a medical professional.

After any type of accident involving a burn, electricity, or fire, be alert for symptoms of a serious injury, per Penn Medicine:

• Blisters, either intact or leaking fluid
• Decrease in alertness (a sign of shock)
• Pain, although some severe burns are painless
• Redness and swelling in the affected area
• Shock, which can include clammy and pale skin, weakness, and blue lips or fingernails
• White or charred appearance

Airway burn symptoms may include:

• Burned areas around the mouth and lips
• Changes in voice
• Coughing and wheezing
• Dark brown or black mucus
• Difficulty breathing
• Singed areas on the head, face, nose, nose hairs, or eyebrows

Although minor burn injuries can typically be treated at home, serious burn injuries require a variety of treatments targeted toward the patient and their specific needs.

How do doctors treat severe burn injuries?

The goal of the initial treatment for a burn injury is the same for everyone – to make sure the burn is clean of debris and dead tissue, and prevent infection and scarring as much as possible. From then, treatment should be adapted to the patient’s individual needs, including their age, health, severity of the injury, how it occurred, and its location on the body.

Severe burn injuries can require a variety of different treatments, including:

• Airway support, like oxygen or a ventilator
• Cardiac tests and IV fluids to treat shock and dehydration
• Chest X-rays to diagnose and treat airway burns
• Immunizations, like tetanus
• Medications to prevent and treat infection
• Pain management therapies and medications
• Physical and occupational therapy
• Skin grafts and reconstructive surgeries

In severe and life-threatening cases, a medical team may place a patient into a medically-induced coma while they treat the injuries.

Why you need a Knoxville catastrophic injury attorney

Severe burns are a life-altering injury. We call these catastrophic injuries because they change your life permanently. A catastrophic injury can prevent you from going back to your job, from ever going back to work, and from living your life in the same way you were before the accident. Simply stated, a severe burn injury, as the researchers from Burns & Trauma demonstrated, changes everything and can cause you pain and difficulty for the rest of your life.

This is why it’s so important to work with a lawyer who understands that, when you suffer a severe burn injury because of another’s negligence, you’re entitled to compensation for the full scope of your losses. We work with medical and financial experts to ensure the totality of your injuries is taken into consideration – your losses and pain now, and your losses and pain in the future.

If you or someone you love were seriously injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, talk to one of the experienced Knoxville personal injury attorneys at Banks & Jones. We work to secure the maximum compensation for your injuries and advocate for you every step of the way. To schedule a consultation with a member of our legal team, call our offices or fill out our contact form today.