Evaluation of pH measurement as a method of wound assessment.
OBJECTIVE
To assess variations in wound pH levels and explore the relationship between wound pH and the state of wound healing.


METHODS
Fifty patients with acute or chronic wounds attending the wound clinic at University Hospital,Varanasi, India were included. Wound pH was measured using litmus paper strips and recorded weekly. Other parameters recorded were the wound condition, exudate level and culture.


RESULTS
The baseline pH of most of the wounds was greater than 8.5. As the wound condition improved and exudate levels decreased, the pH reduced to less than 8.0. Fifty-eight per cent of the wounds were culture positive, and an association was observed between the type of organism present and the wound pH.


CONCLUSIONS
Wound pH measurements can be performed efficiently and are non-invasive, causing no discomfort to the patient. As the wounds healed, the pH reduced. This change in pH can help predict the likelihood of wound healing.
Shukla
V K
VK
Department of General Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University.Varanasi, India. vkshuklabhu@satyam.net.in
Shukla
D
D
Tiwary
S K
SK
Agrawal
S
S
Rastogi
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014945:Wound Healing; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology