# Wallace Rule of Nines

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Equation / Last modified by pro on 2017/12/07 16:06
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The Wallace Rule of Nines calculator computes the percent of a Body Surface Area that is burned based on the Wallace Rule of Nines. Burn Percentage

INSTRUCTIONS:  Enter the following estimated percentages:

• (H)  % of the head burned.
• (LA)  % of the left arm burned.
• (RA)  % of the right arm burned.
• (C)  % of the chest burned.
• (A)  % of the abdomen burned.
• (B)  % of the back burned.
• (G)  % of the groin burned.
• (LL)  % of the left leg burned.
• (RL)  % of the right leg burned.

Percent BSA (%BSA):  The calculator returns the percent of the burned Body Surface Area.

Related Calculators:

• To compute the Replacement Fluid Requirement for a burn victim using the Parkland Formula, CLICK HERE.
• Compute the Body Surface Area using the following methods:

### Burn Surface Area

The Wallace Rule of Nines can be used to approximate the percent of a patient that is burned.   It applies a percent of Body Surface Area, often a multiple of 9, for different body parts as follows:

• (9%) Entire head
• (9%) Complete left arm
• (9%) Complete right arm
• (9%) Entire chest
• (9%) Entire abdomen
• (18%) Complete back
• (1%) Groin
• (18%) Complete left leg
• (18%) Complete right leg
##### Example

If you compute the body surface area of a person using one of the standard body surface area methods  (e.g. Takahira Body Surface Area) and get a BSA of 2 square meters, and then note that the patient’s skin issue (e.g. burn) is on half (50%) of his chest and all (100%) of an arm, you can use the Wallace Rule of Nine as follows:

• Burn Area on Chest = 50% * 9% * 2 square meters = 0.09 square meters
• Burn Area on Arm = 100% * 9% * 2 square meters = 0.18 square meters
• Total Burn Area = 0.09 + 0.18 = 0.27 square meters of skin

This Wallace Rule of Nines Calculator makes the process simpler.   In this example, you would enter 50% for the chest and 100% for the arm.  The calculator would return 13.5%.  That's the total estimate of the body surface area that is burned.  You then multiply 13.5% times 2 square meters to get 0.27 square meters of burned skin.