What type of burn is concerning for a trauma patient?

A burn that is greater than 10% of total body surface area is particularly concerning for a trauma patient because it significantly increases the risks of complications, including hypovolemic shock, infections, and prolonged healing time. The body’s ability to cope with a burn injury is compromised when a large surface area is affected, as this can lead to extensive fluid loss and a critical need for intensive care.

In essence, burns covering more than 10% of the body surface area require immediate and specialized treatment, often necessitating fluid resuscitation and close monitoring in a hospital setting. Such severe burns can also be indicative of larger traumas sustained during the incident that caused the burns, warranting thorough evaluation of the patient's overall condition.

While burns covering more than 5% of total body surface area are also concerning, the threshold of 10% is a more definitive marker used in medical protocols to categorize the severity and need for intervention. Burns confined to an extremity or minor burns like a sunburn do not typically carry the same level of risk and are generally managed in a different way.