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What Is a Fourth Degree Burn on the Skin?

A deep burn to the skin that can be permanently damaging and require extensive treatment is considered to be a fourth degree burn. Because of the severity of this particular burn to the surrounding nerves, it is not always painful.

  1. What is a Fourth Degree Burn?

    • A fourth degree burn is a severe type of burn that causes damage to the muscles, tendons and ligament tissue. There may be some instances where the hypodermis (the inner layer of skin closest to the muscle) is partially or completely burned away, which may result in compartment syndrome. Compartment syndrome threatens both the limb and the life of the patient. Fourth degree burns are caused from prolonged exposure to flames or even a high-voltage electrical shock.

    Identification

    • Fourth degree burns involve the thickness of the skin, and sometimes the muscles, bone or even the tendons. It may look blackened or charred and sometimes may look white in color. The person may not feel any pain due to nerve endings being severely damaged.

    Effects

    • Fourth degree burns often require an extended time for healing. Risk for infection is greatly increased due to the damage done to the tissue's blood supply. A person may also lose the use of a limb since the nerves, tendons and muscles have been damaged.

    Considerations

    • The severity of a fourth degree burn can be minimized by providing immediate first aid while waiting on professional medical help to arrive. Prompt medical attention may help prevent scarring, disability, and deformity.

    Treatment

    • Fourth degree burns often require body fluid replacement as well as removal of dead tissue and skin. This will aid in preventing infections. The burn may also require skin grafts to replace the burned skin. Therapy may be used to help restore functions of the effected area.

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