FURTHER STUDIES ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EXPOSURE TIME AND DEPTH OF DAMAGE OF MODERATE AND SEVERE CUTANEOUS BURNS

Technical Report · Thu Oct 31 04:00:00 EST 1957

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4345597· OSTI ID:4345597

Payne, F. W.; Hinshaw, J. R.

To extend our earlier studies on the relationship between exposure time and depth of damage of moderate and severe burns, injuries were produced by each of six radiant exposures delivered during varying exposure times. The exposures investigated were: 5, 8, 10, 13, 16, and 20 calories per square centimeter. Within this range, as the radiant exposure increased, the exposure time for the production of maximum damage also increased. Injury from a given radiant exposure was less with exposure times either longer or shorter than some immediate time which led to the most severe injury. The relationship between steam bleb formation and decreased depth of injury from short exposure times is pointed out. When the superficial layers of the skin become so hot that vaporization of tissue fluid occurs, energy which might otherwise damage the deep layers is diverted by the conversion of water to steam. For radiant exposures between 8 cal/cm/sup 2/ and 20 cal/cm/sup 2/ delivered with a square pulse, it is possible to predict with fair accuracy the exposure time which will result in the deepest burn. (auth)

• Research Organization: Rochester, N.Y. Univ. Atomic Energy Project
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-12-007653
• OSTI ID: 4345597
• Report Number(s): UR-509
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BURNS
ENERGY
PRODUCTION
RADIATION INJURIES
RADIATION PROTECTION
SKIN
THERMAL RADIATION
WATER