Total body surface area

This article is about the 'rule of nines' in assessing burns of the skin. For the mathematical 'rule of nines', see Rule of nines (mathematics).

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.

Adults Anatomic structure Surface area Anterior head 4.5% Posterior head 4.5% Anterior torso 18% Posterior torso 18% Each Anterior leg 9% Each Posterior leg 9% Each Anterior arm 4.5% Each Posterior arm 4.5% Genitalia/perineum 1%

Children Anatomic structure Surface area Anterior Head 8.5% Posterior Head 8.5% Anterior torso 18% Posterior torso 18% Each Anterior leg 6.5% Each Posterior leg 6.5% Each Anterior arm 4.5% Each Posterior arm 4.5% Genitalia/perineum 1%

Adults Obese & >80kg Anatomic structure Surface area Head and neck 9% Anterior torso 25% Posterior torso 25% Each leg 20% Each arm 5% Genitalia/perineum 0%

Infants < 10kg Anatomic structure Surface area Head and neck 20% Anterior torso 16% Posterior torso 16% Each leg 16% Each arm 8% Genitalia/perineum 1%