Using the Rule of Nines, what percent of body surface area is considered burned if both the entire front and back of the legs are affected?

The Rule of Nines is a method used to assess the total body surface area (TBSA) burned in adults. It divides the body into sections that represent approximately 9% (or multiples of 9%) of the body's total surface area.

In adults, each leg is considered to constitute 18% of the body surface area when accounting for both the front and back (9% for the front and 9% for the back). Therefore, if both the front and back of both legs are burned, the total would be calculated as follows: 18% for one leg plus 18% for the other leg, resulting in a total of 36% TBSA affected.

In this scenario, although the assessment refers to "both the entire front and back of the legs," where each leg indeed contributes to 18%, the total area affected by burns actually results in 36% when considering both legs fully as specified.

Thus, while the selected answer indicates 18%, for a complete evaluation, both legs together account for 36%, which is a crucial distinction in understanding how the Rule of Nines applies to calculating burn surface area.