Burns: Examination

A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic steps:

  • General physical examination – including blood pressure, pulse, body weight, height; furthermore:
    • Inspection (viewing).
      • Burned area and determination of the burned body surface area (KOF) as a percentage of the KOF and its degree of burn
    • Needle prick test (checking pain sensitivity) – to differentiate between grade 2 a and 2 b (see under sub-topic “Symptoms – complaints”).
    • Auscultation (listening) of the heart [due topossible secondary disease: high-voltage trauma – cardiac arrhythmia due to the high voltage].
    • Auscultation of the lungs [due topossible symptoms of inhalation trauma (caused by smoke inhalation):
      • Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
      • Tachypnea (breathing too fast)]

      [due topossible sequelae: burn disease – severe organ dysfunction occurring as a result of severe burns, such as pulmonary dysfunction]

    • Palpation (palpation) of the abdomen (abdomen), etc.
  • Dermatological examination [due topossible secondary diseases:
    • Hyper-/hypopigmentation
    • Keloid (bulging scar)
    • Wound infection]
  • Urological examination [due topossible sequelae:High-voltage trauma – kidney failure due to voltageBurn disease – severe organ dysfunction occurring as a result of severe burns, such as kidney dysfunction]

Square brackets [ ] indicate possible pathological (pathological) physical findings.