Burn Percentage Chart

Introduction to TBSA burn size estimation charts

Total Body Surface Area (TBSA) charts are essential tools used to assess the percentage of the body affected by burns caused by fire disasters. These charts are instrumental in determining burn severity and guiding subsequent treatment decisions. Several types of TBSA charts are widely utilized:

Rule of Nines

Predominantly used for adults, the Rule of Nines chart segments the body into areas representing 9% (or multiples of 9%) of the total body surface area. It offers a quick and straightforward assessment method.

Lund and Browder chart

The Lund and Browder chart provides greater precision compared to the rule of nines. The chart is especially valuable for children, as it accounts for the varying proportions of body surface area due to growth and development and .

The Palmar method (hand surface)

This method uses the patient's palm size, with the entire hand representing roughly 1% of the body surface area, making it useful for estimating smaller or scattered burns.

While these charts are valuable guides, do note that they can't be used for varying degrees of burns. Rather, they typically only consider second-degree (partial thickness) and third-degree (full thickness) burns in their calculations, excluding first-degree burns.

What is a Burn Percentage Chart Template?

A Burn Percentage Chart Template is an essential tool employed by medical professionals, particularly emergency responders and specialists in burn care. It is designed to provide a swift and accurate estimate of the body surface area (BSA) affected by burns in a patient during burns trauma scenarios for accurate burn area measurement and estimation. This template methodically divides the human body into distinct segments, each representing a fixed percentage of the total BSA. By visually mapping out these proportional divisions, the chart enables healthcare providers to systematically assess the severity and distribution of burns across various body regions.

How to use our Burn Percentage Chart?

Important steps are outlined below when filling out a Printable Burn Percentage Chart for Adults Template: 

Step 1. Gather information

Gather basic patient information, including age, weight, and relevant medical history, before filling out the chart.

Step 2. Identify burned areas

Carefully examine the patient's body to identify all areas that have sustained burn injuries.

Step 3.  Determine burned segments

Identify each burned area's corresponding body segment on the Burn Percentage chart.

Step 4. Record burned segments

In the chart, note down the burned segments and their respective percentages.

Step 5. Calculate the total BSA burned

Add the percentages of all burned segments to determine the total BSA burned.

Step 6. Interpret results

Use the total BSA burned to assess burn severity and guide treatment decisions.

What do the results mean?

When using our free Burn Percentage Chart Template the information gained is crucial for assessing burn severity, guiding treatment decisions, and communicating the extent of burn injury among healthcare providers.

Here's a breakdown of how to interpret the results from the Burn Percentage Chart Template:

Estimating burn severity

The total body surface area burned calculated using the Burn Percentage Chart Template serves as a primary indicator of burn severity. Generally, burn patients are categorized as follows:

• Minor burns: Less than 10% body surface area burned
• Moderate burns: 10% to 20% body surface area burned
• Major burns: 20% to 40% body surface area burned
• Critical burns: Over 40% body surface area burned

Guiding fluid resuscitation

Burn patients often require significant fluid resuscitation to maintain blood volume and prevent shock. The Burn Percentage Chart Template helps estimate fluid requirements based on the extent of burn injury. The Parkland formula is commonly used to calculate fluid resuscitation needs, which considers the body surface area burned and the patient's weight.

Determining long-term treatment and prognosis

The Burn Percentage Chart Template provides valuable information for determining the patient's long-term treatment plan and prognosis. More severe burns may require specialized care, prolonged hospitalization, and rehabilitation therapies.

Communicating burn injury extent

The Burn Percentage Chart Template serves as a common language among healthcare providers to communicate the extent of a burn injury. This facilitates a clear understanding of the patient's condition and ensures coordinated care.

Purpose of the Burn Percentage Chart Template

The Burn Percentage Chart Template is most commonly used in emergency medicine settings to assess burn severity and guide treatment decisions. Here are some specific situations where the burn percentage chart template would be useful:

• Initial assessment of burn patients: When a burn patient first arrives at the hospital, the Burn Percentage Chart Template can be used to estimate the extent of their burns quickly. This information can then be used to decide their initial treatment, such as whether they need to be admitted to the hospital or transferred to a specialized burn center.
• Guiding fluid resuscitation: Burn patients often require fluid resuscitation to maintain blood volume and prevent shock. The template can be used to estimate the amount of fluid a patient needs based on their burns, reducing the risks associated with fluid overload.
• Determining burn severity: The Burn Percentage Chart Template can help determine the severity of a burn wound. This information can then be used to decide the patient’s long-term treatment and prognosis.
• Communication tool: This is a common language that can be used by healthcare providers to communicate the extent of a burn injury and potentially an inhalation injury. This can help to ensure that all members of the patient’s care team are on the same page and that the patient is receiving the best possible care.

Benefits of using the Burn Percentage Chart Template

The burn percentage chart doesn’t only serve multiple purposes, but there are also several benefits if one decides to use the template:

• Standardized and efficient means of estimation: The strategic use of this template streamlines the evaluation process, offering a standardized and efficient means of estimating the extent of burn injuries vital in emergency scenarios. It is particularly useful for accurately estimating larger burns, where other methods may have limitations.
• Serves as a communication tool: The chart serves as a valuable communication tool among healthcare team members, fostering a common understanding of burn distribution and guiding collaborative efforts in providing optimal patient care.
• Helps guide treatment decisions: The Burn Percentage Chart Template plays a crucial role in guiding treatment decisions, especially in fluid resuscitation, wound management, exposure treatment, and other therapeutic interventions, ensuring that healthcare providers can swiftly adapt their strategies based on the identified percentage of BSA affected, contributing to a more targeted and effective patient care plan.
• Delivering timely and optimal care: This template will prove to be an indispensable asset in emergency and burn trauma scenarios, enhancing the accuracy, efficiency, and collaboration of medical professionals in delivering timely and optimal care to burn patients.