Total body surface area

Total body surface area (TBSA) is an assessment measure of burns of the skin. In adults, the "rule of nines" is used to determine the total percentage of area burned for each major section of the body. In some cases, the burns may cover more than one body part, or may not fully cover such a part; in these cases, burns are measured by using the casualty's palm as a reference point for 1% of the body.

For children and infants, the Lund-Browder chart is used to assess the burned body surface area. Different percentages are used because the ratio of the combined surface area of the head and neck to the surface area of the limbs is typically larger in children than that of an adult.

Typical values for common groups of humans follow. (Due to rounding, values may not add to 100%.)

Adult Anatomic structure Surface area Anterior head 4.5% Posterior head 4.5% Anterior torso 18% Posterior torso 18% Anterior leg, each 9% Posterior leg, each 9% Anterior arm, each 4.5% Posterior arm, each 4.5% Genitalia/perineum 1%

Child Anatomic structure Surface area Anterior head 9% Posterior head 9% Anterior torso 18% Posterior torso 18% Anterior leg, each 6.5% Posterior leg, each 6.5% Anterior arm, each 4.5% Posterior arm, each 4.5% Genitalia/perineum 1%

Adult, obese >80 kg Anatomic structure Surface area Head and neck 2% Anterior torso 25% Posterior torso 25% Leg, each 20% Arm, each 5% Genitalia/perineum 0%

Infant <10 kg Anatomic structure Surface area Head and neck 20% Anterior torso 16% Posterior torso 16% Leg, each 16% Arm, each 8% Genitalia/perineum 1%