Simulated wound assessment using digital planimetry versus three-dimensional cameras: Implications for clinical assessment

• Published in: Annals of vascular surgery Vol. 41; pp. 235 - 240
• Main Authors: Williams, Katherine J, Sounderajah, Viknesh, Dharmarajah, Brahman, Thapar, Ankur, Davies, Alun H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01.05.2017
• Subjects: Feasibility Studies; Humans; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Models, Anatomic; Observer Variation; Photography - methods; Predictive Value of Tests; Replica Techniques; Skin Ulcer - pathology; Skin Ulcer - therapy; Surgery; Treatment Outcome; Wound Healing
• ISSN: 0890-5096; 1615-5947
• DOI: 10.1016/j.avsg.2016.10.029

Abstract Introduction Clinical management of wounds can benefit from objective measures of response to treatment. Wound surface area and volume are objective measures of wound healing. Using a synthetic wound model we compare the accuracy and reproducibility of two commercially available three-dimensional (3D) cameras against planimetry and water displacement. Methods Twelve ulcers of various sizes and colours were reproduced in modelling clay and cured. 5 naive observers used digital planimetry, water displacement, Eykona camera (Fuel 3D, UK), and Silhouette camera (ARANZ, New Zealand) to measure the wounds. Results When compared to traditional planimetry, wound surface area measurement with Eykona and Silhouette tended to underestimate wounds by 1.7% and 3.7% respectively. Spearman correlation coefficients were 0.94 (Eykona) and 0.92 (Silhouette). Intra-class correlations for planimetry and the two cameras were all 1. Eykona and Silhouette tended to underestimate wound volumes when compared to water displacement by 58% and 23% respectively. Spearman correlation coefficients were 0.92 (Eykona) and 0.72 (Silhouette). Intra-class correlations for water displacement and the two cameras were all 1. Discussion Serial accurate objective area measurements are feasible as part of on-going clinical assessment of wounds. 3D cameras are reliable but have not shown superior accuracy to manual planimetry, and financial concerns and IT integration may limit general clinical usage. Volume measurements of wounds are practicable as part of clinical care.