Tobiasen et al developed the Burn Severity Risk Index to predict the chances of survival in a patient with a severe thermal injury. The authors are from the University of Virginia at Charlottesville.
NOTE: This is shortened in the Abbreviated Burn Severity Index (ABSI).
Parameters:
(1) gender
(2) age
(3) percentage of second-degree burn
(4) percentage of third-degree burn
(5) percentage of total body surface area involved by burn
(6) inhalation injury
(7) cranium involved
(8) abdomen involved
(9) back involved
(10) arm involved
(11) foot involved
Parameter |
Finding |
Points |
gender |
male |
-8.214 |
|
female |
-7.269 |
age in years |
|
closest year |
percent second degree burn |
0% |
0 |
|
1-10% |
1 |
|
11-20% |
2 |
|
21-30% |
3 |
|
31-40% |
4 |
|
41-50% |
5 |
|
51-60% |
6 |
|
61-70% |
7 |
|
71-80% |
8 |
|
81-90% |
9 |
|
91-100% |
10 |
percent third degree burn |
0% |
0 |
|
1-10% |
1 |
|
11-20% |
2 |
|
21-30% |
3 |
|
31-40% |
4 |
|
41-50% |
5 |
|
51-60% |
6 |
|
61-70% |
7 |
|
71-80% |
8 |
|
81-90% |
9 |
|
91-100% |
10 |
total percent BSA burn |
0% |
0 |
|
1-10% |
10 |
|
11-20% |
20 |
|
21-30% |
30 |
|
31-40% |
40 |
|
41-50% |
50 |
|
51-60% |
60 |
|
61-70% |
70 |
|
71-80% |
80 |
|
81-90% |
90 |
|
91-100% |
100 |
inhalation injury |
no |
0 |
|
yes |
1.18 |
cranium involved |
no |
0 |
|
yes |
1.079 |
abdomen involved |
no |
0 |
|
yes |
1.079 |
back involved |
no |
0 |
|
yes |
1.079 |
arm involved |
no |
0 |
|
yes |
1.079 |
foot involved |
no |
0 |
|
yes |
1.079 |
where:
• The total body surface area burned may have 2 interpretations: (a) total body surface area involved (first, second and third degree), (b) just second and third degree burn areas.
• The neck, hands and legs are not listed.
total score =
= (points for gender) + (0.055 * (points for age)) – (0.77 * (points for second degree burn)) + (0.31 * (points for third degree burn)) + (0.068 * (points for total body surface area burned)) + (points for inhalation injury) + (points for cranium) + (points for abdomen) + (points for back) + (points for arm) + (points for foot)
burn severity index =
= (2 * (total score)) + 17
Burn Severity Index |
Probability of Survival |
0 – 11.2 |
0.99 |
11.3 – 13.7 |
0.90 |
13.8 – 14.7 |
0.80 |
14.8 – 15.7 |
0.70 |
15.8 – 16.5 |
0.60 |
16.6 – 17.4 |
0.50 |
17.5 – 18.2 |
0.40 |
18.3 – 19.0 |
0.30 |
19.1 – 20.4 |
0.20 |
20.5 – 23.1 |
0.10 |
>= 23.2 |
< 0.10 |
Limitations:
• The score was derived in 1980 and the prognosis may not reflect current management practices.
Specialty: Emergency Medicine, Critical Care