Doctors use the term “total body surface area,” or TBSA, to describe the amount of a patient’s body affected by burn injuries. Estimating TBSA is important because it allows doctors to calculate how much fluid to give burn patients and helps doctors decide whether to admit patients to a burn unit.
Click photo to view infographic.
This infographic shares more information about TBSA and why it is important, as well as the various methods doctors use to calculate it:
- The Rule of Nines
- The Lund-Browder Chart
- The Palmar Method
It also goes over how TBSA affects the value of lawsuits that burn patients file against the parties responsible for their injuries. The greater the body area affected by the burn injuries, the greater the patient’s medical bills, and thus the greater the value of the lawsuit.
Other factors like whether the patient suffered inhalation injuries, whether the patient need skin grafts, and the location of the burns affects medical costs too. Injuries to the following areas may increase the risk of complications, thus increasing costs:
- Face and neck
- Joints
- Groin
- Buttocks
Each case is unique. Patients will work closely with their doctor during initial care and recovery. Burn victims and their families should also work with an attorney to review the damages they suffered and explore legal options to recover compensation. Call 844-549-8774 to speak with a lawyer referral specialist.
