In infants, how much of the total body surface area (TBSA) is represented by each leg according to the Rule of Nines?

In infants, the Rule of Nines, which is a quick method used to estimate the percentage of total body surface area (TBSA) affected by burns, allocates 7% of TBSA to each leg. This is important because the proportions of body parts can vary significantly between adults and infants.

In adults, each leg represents 18% of TBSA according to the Rule of Nines, but for infants, the body is proportionally different. Infants have larger heads in relation to their body size, which affects the calculations used in the Rule of Nines. Therefore, each leg is assigned a smaller percentage, which is 7%. This knowledge is crucial for emergency treatment and fluid resuscitation in pediatric burn victims, where accurate estimation of burn surface area directly impacts the outcomes of treatment.

Thus, understanding the distribution of TBSA in infants helps healthcare providers make critical decisions in burn management tailored to their unique anatomy and physiology.