Effect of evaporative surface cooling on thermographic assessment of burn depth.
Differences in surface temperature between evaporating and nonevaporating, partial- and full-thickness burn injuries were studied in 20 male, white guinea pigs. Evaporative cooling can disguise the temperature differential of the partial-thickness injury and lead to a false full-thickness diagnosis. A full-thickness burn with blister intact may retain enough heat to result in a false partial-thickness diagnosis. By the fourth postburn day, formation of a dry eschar may allow a surface temperature measurement without the complication of differential evaporation. For earlier use of thermographic information, evaporation effects must be accounted for or eliminated.
D000818:Animals; D002056:Burns / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D008297:Male; D012881:Skin Temperature; D013499:Surface Properties; D013817:Thermography / Q000592:standards*