Progression of thermal injury: a morphologic study.

The events that participate in the local pathophysiology of a burn would have not been completely described. This study defines the sequential morphologic changes following untreated partial-thickness burns. Guinea pigs received partial-thickness scald burns by 75 degrees C water immersion for 10 seconds. Skin samples were then obtained at 2, 8, 24, and 96 hours after the burn and examined by light and electron microscopy. A definite progression of the thermal injury was found, with maximum tissue destruction occurring 8 hours after the burn. At 24 hours after the burn, some improvement in the burn wound was noted, especially in the dermal microvasculature. At 96 hours, the damaged epidermis sloughed, exposing a dermis that contained areas resembling microabscesses.