Question

Using the Rule of Nines, a patient with burns on the entire anterior and posterior of both legs would have an estimated total body surface area burn of

a) 36 percent

b) 9 percent

c) 24 prcent

d) 18 percent

Answer 1

The rule of nine is an quick tool used by the medical provider to assess the extend of injury. It is used in second degree (partial thickness) and third degree( full thickness) burns. The rule of nine assigns a percentage that is either 9 or a multiple of nine which will help to calculate and understand how much body surface area is damaged or burns.

BODY AREA	PERCENTAGE
Head and neck ( anterior + posterior)	4.5% + 4.5% = 9%
Arm (anterior + posterior ) * 2 arms	4.5% + 4.5% = 9% * 2 = 18%
Trunk (anterior + posterior )	18% + 18% = 36%
Genitalia and perineum	1%
Leg (anterior + posterior ) * 2 legs	9% + 9% = 18% *2 =36%
TOTAL	100%

From the table of rule of nine given above we understand that anterior part of a leg is considered as 9% and posterior part as 9%. Hence the total percentage of a leg is 18% (9% + 9%). Here, the patient got burns on the entire anterior and posterior of both legs. Since the entire area of both legs are involved we get a total percent of 36% (18%*2 legs)

So, the estimated total body surface area of burn is 36%

Answer : 36%