A 42 year old male has circumferential burns on both legs and his genitals. What percentage of his body is burned?

To determine the percentage of body surface area that is burned in this scenario, one can apply the "Rule of Nines," a quick method commonly used in emergency medicine to estimate burn extent.

According to the Rule of Nines, an adult's body is segmented into sections that each represent approximately 9% of total body surface area (BSA). In adults, the legs account for 18% of the BSA (9% for each leg), and the genital area is typically represented as an additional 1% of the BSA.

In this case, the patient has circumferential burns on both legs, which would equate to 18% total since both legs burn together represent exactly that percentage. Additionally, the burns on the genitals contribute another 1%. Therefore, if you add the 18% (both legs) to the 1% (genitals), the total is 19% burned.

However, since this patient has circumferential burns, a more significant consideration comes into play. Circumferential burns can lead to a compartment syndrome due to swelling and the restriction of blood flow, which may heighten the need for medical intervention.

For patients with circumferential burns, especially on extremities