Clinical Classification of Burn Severity

 The classification of burns patients according to severity is very helpful as it aids in triage (the organization of rescue and transfer of the patients to medical facilities and the rational allocation of manpower and material resources). With clear classification, care can be delivered in an orderly manner according to relative importance and urgency.

1. Classification criteria applied in China

1) Slight burns: Second-degree burns with a total area below 10 % body surface area (BSA).
2) Moderate burns: Total burn area 11-30% BSA, or third-degree burn less than 10% BSA.
3) Severe burns: Total burn area 31-50% BSA of third-degree burns area 11- 20% BSA; and total burn area less than 31% BSA, but having one of the following conditions: (1) severe systemic condition or shock, (2) compound injury or complicated injury, (3) moderate or severe inhalation injury.
4) Extraordinarily severe burns: Total burn area above 51% BSA or third-degree burns area above 21% BSA

2. Attention points in estimation of burn severity

1) To estimate the severity of burns, in addition to burn area and depth, consideration should include patient’s age and health condition, complications, intoxication, etc.
2) The purpose of classification is to help organization of rescue, transfer of patients and allocation of manpower and material resources, but not for grading the treatment level. Patients with slight burns may deteriorate into a serious situation so that they also need careful and high level treatment.
3) Classification should be done in a proper way and requires to be confirmation.
4) Accurate and detailed notation of the estimation and classification decisions should be recorded to assure quality control.