Tag: Burn assessment

According to a common medical rule of thumb, one adult hand represents approximately 1% of the total body surface area, an estimate often used in emergency medicine. This quick calculation helps medical professionals make rapid assessments, especially regarding burn injuries, before more detailed evaluations are possible.

A person with a deficiency in the blood clotting protein Factor IX may experience uncontrolled bleeding. Understanding what does a factor of 9 mean requires distinguishing between this vital blood component and a completely different medical term used for assessing burn injuries.

For decades, medical professionals have relied on a quick rule of thumb for burn assessment: the patient's palm, including their fingers, is roughly 1% of their total body surface area (TBSA). But is your palm 1% of your body, and can this simple estimate be trusted in real-world scenarios?

In emergency medicine, the area of the palm of your hand is often used as a quick visual reference for sizing burn injuries, traditionally approximating 1% of your total body surface area (TBSA). However, recent studies reveal this rule is more nuanced and varies depending on age and gender.

Originating in 1924, the Berkow method provided one of the earliest standardized approaches for estimating burn size, a critical factor in patient prognosis. This medical formula estimates the total body surface area (TBSA) affected by burns, aiding initial clinical assessment.