Question

How to estimate 1% TBSA in burns?

Options:
A) Measure the circumference of the burn and divide by 100
B) Use a ruler to measure the length and width of the burn and multiply by 0.01
C) Estimate based on the patient's age and weight
D) Count the number of blisters in the burn area

Answer 1

To estimate 1% TBSA in burns, the 'rule of nines' is used, which associates specific body parts with a percentage of body area; for small areas, the size of the patient's palm including fingers is approximately 1% of TBSA.

Step-by-step explanation:

To estimate 1% Total Body Surface Area (TBSA) in burns, one typical method used is the 'rule of nines'. This rule helps determine the total percentage of the body affected by burns by assigning percentages to different body areas that total up to 100%. For example, the entire arm is roughly 9% of the body surface area, the leg is 18%, and so forth. There are variations of this rule for different age groups since body proportions change as we grow. It is important to note that none of the options provided (circumference measurement, ruler measurement, patient age and weight, counting blisters) are correct or relevant for estimating 1% TBSA. To estimate a smaller area corresponding to 1% of the TBSA, the size of the patient's palm (including fingers) can be used as it approximately represents 1% of the body's surface area.