Using the rule of nines, what percentage of body is burned in a 3-year-old with first- and second-degree burns to both arms?

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Multiple Choice

Using the rule of nines, what percentage of body is burned in a 3-year-old with first- and second-degree burns to both arms?

The rule of nines is a quick way to estimate burn surface area, focusing on extent rather than depth. In young children, body proportions differ from adults: the head is proportionally larger and the legs are proportionally smaller. For a child around three years old, each arm accounts for about 9% of body surface area, so both arms together make roughly 18%. The depth of burns (first- vs second-degree) doesn’t change the surface-area calculation. Therefore burns to both arms sum to about 18% of the total body surface area.

The rule of nines is a quick way to estimate burn surface area, focusing on extent rather than depth. In young children, body proportions differ from adults: the head is proportionally larger and the legs are proportionally smaller. For a child around three years old, each arm accounts for about 9% of body surface area, so both arms together make roughly 18%. The depth of burns (first- vs second-degree) doesn’t change the surface-area calculation. Therefore burns to both arms sum to about 18% of the total body surface area.

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