TBSA
Medical abbreviation · Emergency Medicine
| Stands for | Total body surface area |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
TBSA stands for Total body surface area, an emergency medicine abbreviation.
Percentage of the body's skin surface affected by a burn, used to estimate severity, calculate fluid needs and decide on transfer to a burn center. Superficial (first-degree) burns are not counted.
Example: 20% TBSA partial-thickness burns; Parkland fluids started; burn center accepted.
Usage notes
The rule of nines gives quick adult estimates, while the Lund-Browder chart adjusts for children's larger heads. The patient's palm with fingers is roughly 1 percent of TBSA. The Parkland formula estimates 24-hour fluids as 4 mL x weight in kg x %TBSA, half in the first 8 hours.
Related abbreviations
More emergency medicine abbreviations
- ABCDE – Airway, breathing, circulation, disability, exposure
- ABCs – Airway, breathing, circulation
- ACEP – American College of Emergency Physicians
- ACLS – Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support
- AD – Advance directive
- ALS – Advanced life support
- AMA – Against medical advice
- AMLS – Advanced Medical Life Support
- AND – Allow natural death
- ATLS – Advanced Trauma Life Support
- BIBA – Brought in by ambulance
- BIBEMS – Brought in by emergency medical services
See all 97 emergency medicine abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.