The Parkland formula is used to estimate the required amount of replacement fluid such as blood etc., for the first 24 hours for a burn patient. The Parkland formula is mathematically expressed as V = 4 x Wt x BSA % where, Wt is the mass (weight) of the person in Kg, BSA % is the total burnt surface area of the body in percentage, and V is the volume in milliliters (mL). The formula uses the rule of nine to calculate the burn replacement amount.
Consider for example, a person weighing 65 kg with burns to 5% of his or her body surface area would require 4 x 65 x 5 = 1,300 mL of fluid (Blood or other serum) replacement within 24 hours. The first half is given in first 8 hours, and the other half in next 16 hours. The formula is based on the rule of nine and the rule is as follows :
For Adults : Each Arm : 9 % Each Leg : 18 % Head : 9% Front Torso : 18 % Back Torso : 18 % For Children : Each Arm : 9 % Each Leg : 14 % Head : 18% Front Torso : 18 % Back Torso : 18 %