What is the total surface area percentage of the arms for an adult/adolescent?

The correct total surface area percentage of the arms for an adult or adolescent is 15%. This value is derived from the "Rule of Nines," a method used to estimate the total body surface area affected by burns, but it also applies in understanding body surface area distribution for other medical assessments. In the Rule of Nines, the arms are assigned a surface area value of 9% each, and when considering both arms together, they represent a total of 18%. However, for estimating the percentage specifically for each arm, it is often referenced that an individual arm represents approximately 7.5% of total body surface area when incorporating the front and back of the arm, which would lead to rounding the combined total for both arms down to 15% as a standard guideline for adult/adolescent assessments.

This percentage is particularly useful in emergency medical settings for assessing burn injuries and for fluid resuscitation calculations, where understanding the surface area affected can guide treatment decisions effectively.