Cement burn: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 20:11, 19 April 2016
Background
- Widely used in construction, under recognized as a caustic agent able to cause severe skin injury
- Calcium hydroxide very strong corrosive alkali
- pH of 10-12 that can increase to pH 14 during hydrolysis/setting process
Clinical Features
- Most often on lower legs/knees given nature of work
- Kneeling down in cement, walking in cement without protection, spilling over top of work boots
- Symptom onset several hours after exposure - may not start to feel until 3-4 hours after initial exposure
- Can have partial to full thickness burn
Differential Diagnosis
- Lye Burn
Diagnosis
- Causes a liquefactive necrosis via protein denaturation (not a thermal burn)
Management
- Copious water irrigation for at least 30 mins
- May cause circumferential burns
- Counsel about skin protection in future if occupational
Disposition
- As can look benign in first few hours, admission, may need burn center if full thickness, circumferential, involving feet
See Also
External Links
References
- Spoo J, Elsner P. Cement burns: a review 1960-2000. Contact Dermatitis 2001; 45:68.
- UpToDate