Burn Surface Area Calculator

How the burn surface area calculator works

The Rule of Nines divides the adult body into regions of roughly nine percent each, which makes total body surface area burned quick to estimate. Children have proportionally larger heads and smaller legs, which is what the Lund and Browder proportions correct for.

The Parkland formula then gives fluid resuscitation volume: 4 mL of Ringer's lactate per kilogram per percent TBSA over 24 hours from the time of the burn, half of it in the first eight hours.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Rule of Nines?

An adult body surface estimate: head and neck 9 percent, each arm 9, each leg 18, front of trunk 18, back of trunk 18, and perineum 1.

Why is the Rule of Nines different for children?

A child's head is a much larger share of body surface and the legs a smaller one. Using adult proportions overestimates the burn in a child, which is why Lund and Browder charts exist.

What is the Parkland formula?

4 mL × body weight in kg × percent TBSA, given over the first 24 hours from the time of injury, with half in the first 8 hours and half over the following 16.

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