ASSESSING BURNS

Question 1

What is the name of the most commonly used method of measuring burns?

Answer 1

Lund and Browder - this takes into consideration age and the effects age can have on the severity of burns in different body parts

Question 2

Explain the rule of nines

Answer 2

This rule says that each of the following body parts are worth 9% of the TBSA:

• Front and back of head and neck
• Front and back of each arm and hand
• Stomach
• Chest
• Upper back
• Lower back

This helps to identify what percentage of the body has been effected

Question 3

How do you work out the percentage of mortality in burn victims and what does this affect?

Answer 3

TBSA + Age (+17 in inhalation injury) = % mortality

This affects the treatment the patient receives and the likely outcomes

Question 4

Explain the palm of hand method

Answer 4

The palm of a patients hand is considered 1% of the Surface area of their body and so is used to measure the TBSA of burns they have

Question 5

How do you test for blanching?

Answer 5

Press on the reddened area that is affected, if it blanches white (as the blood is pushed out of the capillaries) then goes red again (as the capillaries refill) this is a normal reaction