In burn coding, which percentage is used for a front torso burn?

In burn coding, which percentage is used for a front torso burn?

• A. 18%
• B. 9%
• C. 24%
• D. 30%

Answer: (A)

In burn coding, estimating total body surface area uses the Rule of Nines. For adults, the front of the trunk (the chest and abdomen combined) accounts for 18% of the body surface area. That means a burn on the front torso is recorded as 18% TBSA. (The back of the trunk is also 18%, arms are 9% each, legs are 18% each, and the head is 9% in total.) For children, the Lund and Browder chart adjusts these values, but in standard adult practice the front torso is 18%.

In burn coding, estimating total body surface area uses the Rule of Nines. For adults, the front of the trunk (the chest and abdomen combined) accounts for 18% of the body surface area. That means a burn on the front torso is recorded as 18% TBSA. (The back of the trunk is also 18%, arms are 9% each, legs are 18% each, and the head is 9% in total.) For children, the Lund and Browder chart adjusts these values, but in standard adult practice the front torso is 18%.