title: Burns area estimation-an error perpetuated.
abstract: In estimating small areas of burns, it is traditionally taught that the patient's palm is 1% of the body surface area. Whether the palm means the palmar surface of the whole hand or palm excluding the fingers, has not been very clear and is a source of confusion to many junior doctors. The ATLS teaching has been in contradiction to the evidence from literature and hence we undertook a study to examine the evidence and practices regarding this issue. It was done through a literature search, telephonic interviews and a review of Web-pages related to burns area estimation. The results highlighted the existing confusion on the topic and the need for educating junior doctors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, University Hospital of North Durham, North Road, Durham, DH1 5TW UK. rajivemathew@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Rajive Mathew
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Jose
authors.forename: Deb Kumar
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: Ramesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vidyadharan
authors.forename: Matt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erdmann
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D001830:Body Surface Area; D002056:Burns / Q000473:pathology*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011364:Professional Practice; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices