Question

According to the rule of nines, this patient has burns that cover _____ of his BSA.

1) 18
2) 36
3) 45
4) 27

Answer 1

The rule of nines is a method used to estimate the total body surface area (BSA) affected by burns, but the given options do not match the percentages based on this rule. Additional information is needed to determine the correct percentage.

Step-by-step explanation:

The rule of nines is a method used to estimate the total body surface area (BSA) affected by burns. It divides the body into regions, each representing 9% or a multiple of 9% of the BSA.

In this case, none of the given options (18%, 36%, 45%, or 27%) are valid percentages according to the rule of nines. It is not possible to determine the correct percentage without additional information.

To accurately calculate the BSA affected by burns, healthcare professionals use the rule of nines alongside other methods, such as the Lund-Browder chart, which takes into account the different proportions of body parts in children and adults.