Extent of burn injury

The extent of the disability is expressed as a percentage of the total body surface. The so-called rule of nine is a method for roughly determining the extent of disability in adults and older children. In small children, the rule cannot be used for disproportions between the head and other parts of the body.

The body surface is divided into regions that represent an area of ​​approximately 9% or a multiple of nine: To more accurately determine the extent of disability, we use tables according to Lund-Browder.
 * head + neck = 9%
 * upper extremity = 9%
 * lower limb 2 x 9 = 18%
 * front torso area 2 x 9 = 18%
 * rear torso area 2 x 9 = 18%
 * genital and perineum = 1%.

When determining the extent of minor injuries, the area of ​​the palm of the patient's hand with fingers together, which represents approximately 1% of the total body surface, can be used. In pediatric patients, if the Lund-Browder chart is not available, the burned child's hand is also used to determine 1% body surface area.


 * The extent of disability with regard to the age of the injured person is the most important factor in terms of starting anti-shock treatment, pre-hospital emergency care and classification of victims in a mass casualty.


 * The depth of the disability is not important from the point of view of immediate help, because it is a time-variable figure. From the point of view of long-term prognosis, however, there is information affecting late prognosis and quality of life with permanent consequences.

related articles

 * Surgical treatment of burns
 * Burns