Which patient should be referred to a burn center?

In considering which patient should be referred to a burn center, it's essential to evaluate the individual characteristics of the burns and the patient's underlying health conditions. The correct choice identifies a 52-year-old diabetic male with a partial thickness burn to the left lower leg.

Patients with diabetes are at a significantly increased risk for complications from burns. Their ability to heal is often compromised due to decreased circulation and impaired immune response, which makes partial thickness burns on individuals with this condition particularly concerning. Moreover, the location of the burn on the lower leg can complicate healing and lead to further issues such as infection or the risk of long-term damage, necessitating specialized care that a burn center can provide.

While the other cases involve burns as well, they do not carry the same level of concern associated with the patient’s underlying health conditions or the burn severity based on the accepted referral criteria to a burn center. For example, superficial burns generally heal well without specialized treatment, and the partial thickness burn on the forearm does not present similar complications. Thus, it is crucial to prioritize patients who are at higher risk for complications, which is exemplified in the case of the diabetic individual.