Dp. Orgill et al., A FINITE-ELEMENT MODEL PREDICTS THERMAL-DAMAGE IN CUTANEOUS CONTACT BURNS, The Journal of burn care & rehabilitation, 19(3), 1998, pp. 203-209
Citations number
14
Categorie Soggetti
Surgery,Rehabilitation,"Emergency Medicine & Critical Care
Thermal injury results from exposure of skin elements to an externally
applied heat source. finite-element analysis of heat transfer in cuta
neous burns allows for an accurate prediction of tissue time-temperatu
re relationships throughout the exposed tissue. A two-dimensional, axi
symmetric, finite-element model of a contact burn was constructed, and
damage integrals were calculated by applying the Arrhenius equation t
o the time-temperature profiles at each point. The epidermis, dermis,
and subcutaneous fat were modeled as uniform elements with distinct th
ermal properties. Heated aluminum blocks were applied to Yorkshire pig
s for 10 to 80 seconds to produce contact burns. Wound biopsies taken
at 1, 24, and 48 hours were examined histologically and measured for t
he depth of burn. A significant deepening of the gelatinized tissue wa
s observed in tissue taken from 1 hour to 24 hours. The finite-element
prediction of cutaneous contact burn damage correlated well with hist
ologic observations in this porcine model.