Surface area measurement of pressure sores using wound molds and computerized imaging.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a method to measure wound surface area.


METHODS
Validity study.


METHODS
Inpatient service.


METHODS
Four patients with decubitus ulcers.


METHODS
A new imaging process estimating wound surface area and volume by NMR spectroscopy of a mold of the pressure ulcer and a comparison measurement of volume of the mold by water displacement. Measurements made serially totalled 17.


RESULTS
Measurement of the volume of the mold by the computer system correlated strongly with measurement of the volume by water displacement. Surface area of the pressure sore mold correlated strongly with volume of the mold raised to the two-thirds power.


CONCLUSIONS
It is possible for the first time to measure surface area of decubitus ulcers. This may provide a way of determining accurately the dose of newly proposed topical treatments.
Hayward
P G
PG
Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston.
Hillman
G R
GR
Quast
M J
MJ
Robson
M C
MC
D003102:Colloids; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000473:pathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
D003102:Colloids; D009930:Organic Chemicals; C043594:Jeltrate