Humor me please with a question from my son...

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

We were discussing my 7th grade experiences. I mentioned we had to read Johnny Tremaine. My project was a poster depicting the main character injuring himself by pouring hot molten silver on his hand in colonial times.

So what does my son ask? So how would they fix that today?

If a hand was encased in molten silver that hardened, (silver en bloc?) I'm guessing the tissue destruction from the thermal burns combined with the only way to successfully remove the silver would be to re-melt it. ( not a realistic option) then the only treatment option would be distal amputation? The risk of tissue death,compartment syndrome, etc would be very high it would seem.

Thoughts? Talk amongst yourselves.

Ah the conversations with a 12 year old who helped mom study in nursing school years ago...

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

Ha! I would at least attempt to use a cast-saw to remove the silver mold.

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He sounds like a cool kid! Cast saw is good but amputation came to mind first.

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Specializes in critical care.

I love mind blowing questions from kids. I'm curious to know the answer. I imagine the initial tissue and vascular damage would be too severe to have a usable hand if you did successfully remove the metal. I mean, literally it got cooked in the process, wouldn't you think? I vote amputate.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

At least now unlike colonial times there are modern prosthetics that could be used and a planned amputation to preserve potential function.

If I recall correctly, the story he had a fused hand that was useless and he tried to hide. He wasn't to work on Sundays as an apprentice but did it anyway and had he accident. They definitely weren't seeking medical accuracy in this classic novel. I remember the second book was Treasure Island , which I loathed

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Specializes in Cardiac Care.

This brings back memories; I LOVED Johnny Tremaine. I'm going to have to find the book and reread...!

Oh, and I vote amputation.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
This brings back memories; I LOVED Johnny Tremaine. I'm going to have to find the book and reread...!

Oh, and I vote amputation.

It was one of the few books assigned that I willingly read in seventh grade that I also recall. The Outsiders was another. ;)

Now the outsiders would Johnny & Pony Boy (boys significantly burned in the structure fire) have better outcomes today in a modern burn ICU? Johnny likely not as I think full thickness burns to over 50% with likely airway involvement has a very high mortality rate even with modern interventions and treatments available.

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Specializes in Emergency room, Neurosurgery ICU.

since Silver's melting point = 1235.08 K, 962 ºC, 1571 ºF and boiling point = 2485.15 K, 2212 ºC, 3571 ºF, I am going to go with full thickness burns, amputation, and eventual prosthesis. I have not read this book, am going to have to look into it!

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Specializes in Emergency room, Neurosurgery ICU.

here's a link to a relevant article that may help answer your last question... (maybe) Pediatric burn injuries

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Oncology, Epic CT.

Tell him, the patient is becoming a real life Iron Man!

Just joking.

I agree with the others about full thickness burns and amputation, though, considering the age your son is, he might find those concepts fascinating.

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Specializes in Oncology.

OSHA would never let something like that happen!

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Imagine if OSHA was around in the 1800's and early 1900's.

John Wannamaker had a camp in NJ to train his minor child employees.

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