For a patient who has sustained burns to specific areas, what percentage of total body surface area is burned, according to the rules of nines?

The correct percentage of total body surface area burned, particularly when assessing burns, is determined using the "Rule of Nines." This rule divides the body into sections, each representing approximately 9% of total body surface area.

In adults, for example, the head and neck account for 9%, each arm for 9%, each leg for 18% (9% for the front and 9% for the back), the anterior trunk for 18%, and the posterior trunk for another 18%. Therefore, if a patient has burns that affect certain areas, such as one arm and part of the anterior trunk, understanding this breakdown can help calculate the total burned area accurately.

The percentage of 14.5% mentioned aligns with scenarios where specific areas are burned, which could involve different combinations of the standard percentages from the Rule of Nines. This calculation can vary depending on the areas affected; for a common scenario involving both an arm and a portion of the trunk, arriving at 14.5% is plausible when assessing the parts affected together. Thus, using the established method allows for a clear and quick evaluation in a clinical setting.