Burn Injury Lawyers

The Lesser Known Burn Degrees

The majority of people realize that there are three main degrees of burns. These are arranged in order of severity as well as what levels of skin are damaged. What many people don’t realize is that there are actually six degrees of burns.

As a refresher, third-degree burns occur when the skin is lost with damage to the hypodermis (the layer under the skin) as well as the muscle underneath. These burn victims will exhibit charring and extreme damage to the dermis.

Fourth-degree burns result in damage to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments beneath the skin. The result is charring and catastrophic damage to the hypodermis. In some instances, the hypodermis tissue may be partially or completely burned away. This may result in a condition called compartment syndrome. This can threaten both the life and limb of the patient. In order to recover, grafting is required.

Fifth-degree burns completely burn off the hypodermis and leave blackened muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The fat, nerves, veins, and arteries of the skin have all been destroyed. As a result, the burn area is paralyzed. If the burn does not prove to be fatal, amputation or grafting is required. The decision is frequently based on the amount of bone involvement.

Sixth-degree burns leave blackened bone and damaged marrow tissue. These burns, when they are not fatal, require amputation.

If you have been the victim of serious burn injuries, there may be legal options available to you. For more information on the legal system and to have your case assessed by an experienced burn attorney, please contact the burn injury lawyers of Williams Kherkher at 1-866-950-9000 for a consultation.