A patient who has been burned cannot detect light touch, temperature, or sharp/dull sensations, while vibration and pressure remain intact. Which burn classification is MOST likely?

• A. Epidermal
• B. Superficial partial thickness
• C. Deep partial thickness
• D. Full-thickness

Answer: (C)

The pattern here shows nerves in the superficial layers are damaged, while deeper receptors remain functional. Loss of light touch, temperature, and sharp/dull pain points to injury of the superficial dermal nerves and Meissner’s corpuscles, whereas the preservation of vibration and deep pressure indicates the deeper Pacinian receptors are still intact. This combination fits a deep partial-thickness burn, where the dermal layers are injured but not completely destroyed. In deeper full-thickness burns, you’d expect insensitivity to most sensations, while epidermal or superficial partial-thickness burns typically preserve more surface sensation.