How is the percentage of body surface area affected by burns determined?
A. Depth of burn
B. Type of burn
C. Rule of nines
D. Amount of hair singed
B
Actually, the correct answer is not B, but C. The percentage of body surface area affected by burns is determined using the rule of nines.
The rule of nines is a formula used to estimate the total body surface area (TBSA) affected by burns. It divides the body into different regions, each accounting for a specific percentage of the TBSA. These regions include the head and neck, upper limbs (both front and back), the chest, the abdomen, the upper back, the lower back and buttocks, the front of the lower limbs, and the back of the lower limbs.
Each of these regions is assigned a specific percentage, typically multiples of 9, which is based on the assumption that each region represents roughly 9% of the total body surface area. For example, the head and neck are assigned a value of 9%, each upper limb is assigned 9% (totaling 18% for both), the chest and abdomen are assigned 18% combined, and so on.
By evaluating the extent of burns in each of these regions and adding up the corresponding percentages, the total percentage of body surface area affected by burns can be determined using the rule of nines.
So, in summary, the correct answer is C - the rule of nines.