Burn Area Estimation

Burn estimation, a critical aspect of fluid volume requirements, relies on one of several methods:

1. Rule of Nines: This widely-used method assigns percentages of total body surface area (TBSA) to various body regions.

   Adult

• Head (including neck): 9%
• Trunk (including buttocks on the posterior aspect): 36%
• Arms (including hand): 9% each
• Legs: 18% each
• Groin: 1%

   Obese Adult

• Head (including neck): 6%
• Trunk (including buttocks on the posterior aspect): 50%
• Arms (including hand): 7% each
• Legs: 15% each

   Pediatric

• Head (including neck): 18%
• Trunk (including buttocks on the posterior aspect): 36%
• Arms (including hand): 9% each
• Legs: 14% each
• *Each year after 1 year old (up to 9 years old), 1% is subtracted from the head and distributed to the legs (0.5% per leg).

2. Lund and Browder Chart: A more precise method, particularly beneficial in children, assigns percentages to body regions. Here, each arm constitutes 10%, each anterior and posterior trunk 13%, and the head and legs' percentages vary with the patient's age.
3. Palmar Surface: For small burns, estimation based on the patient's palm surface (excluding fingers) representing approximately 0.5% of their body surface area, and the entire hand surface (including palm and fingers) representing about 1% of their body surface area, proves useful.