Final answer:
The palm of a patient's hand roughly equals 1% of the total body surface area (TBSA), which is important for assessing burn size for treatment purposes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The size of the burn relative to the total body surface area (TBSA) is crucial in guiding treatment decisions for a patient. According to the rule of nines in burn assessment, the palm of a patient's hand is approximately equivalent to 1% of the TBSA. This method helps medical professionals quickly estimate the size of a burn by comparing it to the patient's palm. It's a useful approximation for assessing the extent of a burn, thereby informing treatment planning and management.