A client admitted for partial- and full-thickness burns of the entire right lower leg and the anterior portion of the right upper arm. What percentage of body surface area is affected?

A client admitted for partial- and full-thickness burns of the entire right lower leg and the anterior portion of the right upper arm. What percentage of body surface area is affected?

• A. 20%
• B. 22.5%
• C. 18%
• D. 25%

Answer: (B)

The key idea is estimating burn size using the standard body surface area chart (Rule of Nines for adults) and adding the percentages for each burned region. In adults, the leg as a region accounts for 18% of total body surface area. The anterior portion of the upper arm represents about half of the arm’s total 9%, which is roughly 4.5%. The burns described affect the entire right lower leg (18%) plus the anterior portion of the right upper arm (4.5%). Add them together: 18% + 4.5% = 22.5%. So, the total body surface area affected is 22.5%. In more detailed assessments, a Lund and Browder chart would give even more precise segmentation, but for a quick estimation this approach is standard.

The key idea is estimating burn size using the standard body surface area chart (Rule of Nines for adults) and adding the percentages for each burned region.

In adults, the leg as a region accounts for 18% of total body surface area. The anterior portion of the upper arm represents about half of the arm’s total 9%, which is roughly 4.5%. The burns described affect the entire right lower leg (18%) plus the anterior portion of the right upper arm (4.5%).

Add them together: 18% + 4.5% = 22.5%.

So, the total body surface area affected is 22.5%. In more detailed assessments, a Lund and Browder chart would give even more precise segmentation, but for a quick estimation this approach is standard.