Thermal/Electrical Injuries

The skin is the primary barrier to the external insults an organism may encounter. It is a resilient and durable structure with many defense characteristics. The stratum corneum and adnexal covering (feathers, fur, or scales) offer a relative amount of armor against corrosive agents, extremes of temperature, and sharp forces. Its elasticity allows it to stretch and resist tearing when met with abrasive or compressive forces. This defensive coating, however, is not invulnerable, and its protection may be breached by excesses of heat or force that overwhelm its barrier capacity. Flames, chemicals, electrical currents, and hot liquids may breach the skin barrier causing burns and scalds. These events may also directly or indirectly affect other systems in the body, resulting in respiratory compromise, cardiac insufficiency, or multiple organ failure. A cutaneous lesion should prompt the veterinary pathologist or clinician to look below the surface for other manifestations or sequelae to skin injury. This chapter will focus on thermal and chemical insults to the skin and the possible parallel and subsequent changes in other organ systems.