Laser Doppler imaging in a paediatric burns population.
OBJECTIVE
Laser Doppler imaging (LDI) was compared to wound outcomes in children's burns, to determine if the technology could be used to predict these outcomes.


METHODS
Forty-eight patients with a total of 85 burns were included in the study. Patient median age was 4 years 10 months and scans were taken 0-186 h post-burn using the fast, low-resolution setting on the Moor LDI2 laser Doppler imager. Wounds were managed by standard practice, without taking into account the scan results. Time until complete re-epithelialisation and whether or not grafting and scar management were required were recorded for each wound. If wounds were treated with Silvazine or Acticoat prior to the scan, this was also recorded.


RESULTS
The predominant colour of the scan was found to be significantly related to the re-epithelialisation, grafting and scar management outcomes and could be used to predict those outcomes. The prior use of Acticoat did not affect the scan relationship to outcomes, however, the use of Silvazine did complicate the relationship for light blue and green scanned partial thickness wounds. Scans taken within the 24-h window after-burn also appeared to be accurate predictors of wound outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
Laser Doppler imaging is accurate and effective in a paediatric population with a low-resolution fast-scan.
Mill
Julie
J
Royal Children's Hospital Burns Research Group, University of Queensland, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Royal Children's Hospital, Herston Rd, Herston, Queensland 4029, Australia. rchburns@somc.uq.edu.au
Cuttle
Leila
L
Harkin
Damien G
DG
Kravchuk
Olena
O
Kimble
Roy M
RM
D000293:Adolescent; D001458:Bandages; D002056:Burns / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D004848:Epithelium / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D012880:Skin Pigmentation; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology