Medical Diagnostics & Clinical Scoring

Rule of Nines (Burn Surface Area)

Quickly estimate the Total Body Surface Area (TBSA) affected by burns using the standardized Rule of Nines for adults and children.

Estimated TBSA
0
SeverityPartial-thickness burn

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Rule of Nines Overview

The Rule of Nines is a standardized clinical tool used by emergency responders and physicians to estimate the Total Body Surface Area (TBSA) affected by second and third-degree burns in adults. Accurate TBSA estimation is critical for determining the severity of the injury, calculating fluid resuscitation requirements, and deciding on the level of care (e.g., referral to a specialized burn center).

Anatomical Distribution (Adults)

  • Head and Neck: 9%
  • Each Arm: 9%
  • Anterior Trunk (Chest/Abdomen): 18%
  • Posterior Trunk (Back): 18%
  • Each Leg: 18%
  • Perineum/Genitalia: 1%

TBSA = Σ(Body Region Percentages)

Where:
Σ=
Sum of the percentages assigned to each burned anatomical region.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Children have different body proportions (larger heads and smaller legs). The Lund-Browder Chart is preferred for pediatric burn assessment.

No. Only partial-thickness (second-degree) and full-thickness (third-degree) burns should be included in the TBSA calculation for fluid resuscitation purposes.

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