Physical Therapy Assistant Practice Exam

Which type of burn requires grafts and presents with eschar formation, often resulting in minimal pain?

1. Superficial burn

2. Superficial partial-thickness burn

3. Deep partial-thickness burn

4. Full-thickness burn

The correct answer is: Full-thickness burn

The type of burn that requires grafts and presents with eschar formation, often resulting in minimal pain, is indeed a full-thickness burn. This type of burn affects all layers of the skin, including the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue. Due to the depth of the injury, the nerve endings in the dermis are destroyed, which results in a significant loss of sensation in the area. Eschar formation is characteristic of full-thickness burns, as the damaged tissue becomes necrotic and forms a thick, leathery scab that can be detrimental to healing. Given that this type of burn damages nerve endings, patients often experience little to no pain, which can be misleading in assessing the severity of the injury. In contrast, other burn types such as superficial and superficial partial-thickness burns affect only the outer layers and typically present with pain, redness, and blistering, thereby not requiring grafting. Deep partial-thickness burns may involve deeper tissues and could sometimes require grafts, but they usually retain some sensation and still have an associated pain response.