1. What is Pediatric Burn Surface Area Calculator?

Definition: This calculator estimates the percentage of total body surface area (TBSA) affected by burns in pediatric patients using the pediatric Rule of Nines.

Purpose: It helps medical professionals quickly assess burn severity in children, which is critical for treatment decisions and fluid resuscitation calculations.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the pediatric Rule of Nines formula:

Where:

• Head — 18% of TBSA
• Each Arm — 9% of TBSA
• Each Leg — 18% of TBSA
• Front Torso — 18% of TBSA
• Back Torso — 18% of TBSA
• Genitals — 1% of TBSA

Explanation: The calculator sums the percentages of affected areas to determine total burn surface area.

3. Importance of Pediatric Burn Assessment

Details: Accurate TBSA calculation is crucial for:

• Determining burn severity
• Calculating fluid resuscitation needs
• Guiding treatment decisions
• Assessing prognosis

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the percentage of each body region affected by burns. The calculator will sum all values to provide total burn surface area percentage.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How does pediatric Rule of Nines differ from adult Rule of Nines?
A: Children have proportionally larger heads and smaller legs compared to adults, requiring different percentage allocations.

Q2: What's considered a major burn in children?
A: Typically burns covering >10% TBSA in children require specialized burn care.

Q3: How accurate is the Rule of Nines?
A: It provides a quick estimate. For more precision, the Lund-Browder chart is often used, especially for smaller burns.

Q4: Why is TBSA important for fluid resuscitation?
A: The Parkland formula uses TBSA to calculate fluid requirements (4ml × %TBSA × weight in kg).

Q5: When should I use this calculator?
A: For initial assessment of pediatric burns (ages 0-14). For neonates, different proportions apply.