Infrared optoelectronic volumetry, the ideal way to measure limb volume.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to compare a novel infrared optoelectronic system (Perometer) of limb volume measurement with water displacement and two indirect measurement techniques.


METHODS
A prospective experimental study.


METHODS
In 10 healthy male volunteers (20 limbs) we compared limb volume measurements obtained by water displacement, infrared perometry, the disc model method and the frustrum method. In a further 17 patients with swollen limbs due to lymphatic (9 limbs) or venous (11 limbs) disease, perometry was compared to the disc model method and the frustrum method only.


RESULTS
In normal limbs, mean +/- S.D. limb volume using water displacement was 1802 +/- 268 ml. Perometer values agreed almost exactly (1809 +/- 262 ml, r = 0.97, variation +/- 7% by limits of agreement) but both the disc (1923 +/- 306 ml, r = 0.90, variation +/- 14%) and frustrum (1905 +/- 372 ml, r = 0.72, variation +/- 28%) methods significantly overestimated limb volumes (p < 0.05 (ANOVA, Fisher's Least Significant Difference)). In diseased limbs perometer, disc method and frustrum method results were 2415 +/- 995 ml, 2494 +/- 969 ml, and 2413 +/- 870 ml representing variation of +/- 17% and +/- 23% for disc method and frustrum method respectively compared to perometry.


CONCLUSIONS
Perometry is a novel, extremely accurate and easy method for assessing limb volume. It provides more accurate results than traditional indirect measurement of limb volume and potentially is a very useful clinical and research tool.
Tierney
S
S
Department of Surgery, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London, U.K.
Aslam
M
M
Rennie
K
K
Grace
P
P
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007259:Infrared Rays; D007866:Leg / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000150:complications; D014680:Veins