title: Timing of the thermographic assessment of burns.
abstract: The thermographic assessment of burns using infrared imaging has previously been shown to be a useful aid in the estimation of burn depth. In this study, thermographic images of burns, obtained from 65 patients over a 4-year period, were reviewed. An infrared transparent, water-impermeable membrane was used as a wound cover to abolish evaporative cooling artefacts. Single images were obtained from patients with burns to various parts of the body, excluding the hands. A significant change in the temperature of deep burns was observed between days 2 and 3 after injury (chi-square, P < 0.01; Fisher exact probability test between days 2 and 3, P < 0.01). The results of this study suggest that thermography of burns, to assess depth, should be performed within 3 days following the injury.
authors.affiliation: Wessex Regional Burns Unit, Salisbury General Hospital, Wiltshire, UK.
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Liddington
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Shakespeare
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002056:Burns / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007259:Infrared Rays; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000473:pathology; D013817:Thermography / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology