Injuries: burns, rule of nines: practice question

A Forensic Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Forensic Medicine · Injuries: burns, rule of nines

Sample item

An adult sustains flame burns involving the whole of the front of the trunk, the whole of the left lower limb and the whole of the left upper limb. Using the rule of nines, what is the percentage of total body surface area burnt?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. 45%

In the adult rule of nines, each upper limb is 9%, each lower limb 18%, the front of the trunk 18%, the back of the trunk 18%, head and neck 9% and perineum 1%. Here the front of the trunk (18) plus the left lower limb (18) plus the left upper limb (9) gives 45%. This estimate guides fluid resuscitation.

Option by option

  • A. 45% (correct)

    Correct. 18 + 18 + 9 = 45%.

  • B. 54%

    This counts the upper limb as 18%, which is the value for a lower limb.

  • C. 36%

    This counts only the trunk front and the lower limb (18 + 18) and omits the upper limb.

  • D. 27%

    This counts only the upper limb and lower limb (9 + 18) and omits the trunk.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is A, 45%. In the adult rule of nines, each upper limb is 9%, each lower limb 18%, the front of the trunk 18%, the back of the trunk 18%, head and neck 9% and perineum 1%.

Why is "54%" not the answer?

This counts the upper limb as 18%, which is the value for a lower limb.

Why is "36%" not the answer?

This counts only the trunk front and the lower limb (18 + 18) and omits the upper limb.

Why is "27%" not the answer?

This counts only the upper limb and lower limb (9 + 18) and omits the trunk.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Injuries: burns, rule of nines in Forensic Medicine. Here the front of the trunk (18) plus the left lower limb (18) plus the left upper limb (9) gives 45%. This estimate guides fluid resuscitation.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Injuries: burns, rule of nines?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.