A 6-month-old male has full thickness burns to his head, right arm, and back. What percentage of his body is burned?

To assess the percentage of body surface area affected by burns in a child, the Lund-Browder chart is frequently utilized, which provides a more accurate estimation for pediatric patients compared to the Rule of Nines. The Rule of Nines allocates specific percentages to various body parts: the head (18% for children, 9% for adults), the arms (each 9% for adults, 9% for children), the back (18% for adults and typically around 13-14% for infants and toddlers), and so forth.

In a 6-month-old male, the head accounts for a larger percentage of body surface area relative to the rest of the body, and the percentages for various regions will need adjustment. For a 6-month-old, the head can constitute about 18%, the front of each arm (4.5% each), and the back (14% roughly).

When calculating the total burn percentage for this scenario, we take the head (18%), the right arm (9%), and the back (14%). Adding these values together results in 41%. However, when considering that we must account for the total body area systematically, it might lead to confusion about definite proportions.

The correct calculation and understanding