Question

A client sustains a burn injury to the entire right and left arms, the right leg, and the anterior thorax. According to the rule of nines, the nurse would assess that this injury constitutes which body percentage?

Fill in the blank.........%

Answer 1

The rule of nines calculation for burn injuries to the entire right and left arms, right leg, and anterior thorax results in a total body area of 45% burned, which is critical for determining the need for specialized treatment.

Step-by-step explanation:

Using the rule of nines, the percentage of body area burned for a client sustaining injuries to the entire right and left arms, right leg, and anterior thorax can be calculated as follows: Each arm is equivalent to 9%, so for both arms, this equals 18%. Each leg is 18%, but since only one leg is affected, we keep it at 18%. The anterior thorax represents 9% of the body area. Therefore, the total body percentage burned is calculated by adding these areas together: 18% (arms) + 18% (right leg) + 9% (anterior thorax), which totals 45%.

This method of assessment is vital for guiding decisions on the need for specialized treatment, as the extent of the burn area relates directly to the severity of the injury and the necessary medical intervention.