Final answer:
Partial-thickness burns affecting greater than 10% of the body surface area should be referred to a burn center. The rule of nines is used to estimate burn size, and third and fourth-degree burns require specialized medical treatment, including possible skin grafting.
Step-by-step explanation:
Partial-thickness burns greater than 10% of the body need immediate referral to a burn center. Burns are often evaluated using the “rule of nines,” which helps medical professionals estimate the size of the burn about the body's total surface area. This rule associates specific anatomical areas with a percentage that is a multiple of nine. When it comes to assessing burn severity, it's important to remember that a first-degree burn affects only the epidermis and usually heals on its own. In contrast, a second-degree burn affects the epidermis and part of the dermis, causing blisters and requiring clean and sterile care to prevent infection. More serious burns, such as third-degree burns, destroy the full thickness of the skin and require medical attention. The most severe, fourth-degree burns, extend to the muscle and bone, and the nerve damage can make them paradoxically less painful. Treatment of third and fourth-degree burns often involves excision or amputation followed by skin grafting.