Managing non-complex burns

Each year, approximately 130,000 people present at A&E with burns injuries, and 10,000 are admitted. This leaves about 120,000 who will be treated as outpatients, mainly by practice and community nurses.¹ An additional 250,000 people also present to primary care with burns.²

Non-complex burns
The assessment of a burn needs to consider the extent and site of injury, the cause and the depth of the burn.

Burns that require IV resuscitation are those more than 15% of total body surface area (TBSA) in an adult and 10% TBSA in a child,³ but it is less clear what TBSA is considered reasonable for a non-complex burn. However, the general consensus is that less than 5% TBSA constitutes a non-complex burn.³