title: Measurement of elasticity and transepidermal water loss rate of burn scars with the Dermalab(®).
abstract: This cross-sectional study investigated the reproducibility of repeated elasticity and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) measurements with the DermaLab(®) on 32 active burn scars and healthy skin. Intra- and inter-observer reproducibility was examined by means of intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) and standard error of measurements (SEM). Results showed good ICC values and rather high SEM values for inter- and intra-observer reproducibility of elasticity measurements. For TEWL measurements, ICC values were good and SEM values were high for inter- and intra-observer reproducibility. There was a significant difference between the estimated mean elasticity values of normal skin and grafted scars and between normal skin and spontaneously healed scars (p≤0.003). For the estimated mean TEWL values, there was a significant difference between normal skin and spontaneously healed scars (p=0.036). A significant negative relation was reported between mean TEWL and time after burn (p=0.008). In clinical trials it is necessary to interpret patient-specific changes in elasticity and TEWL with caution, since the SEMs of both modes are rather high. We therefore recommend the use of a mean of repeated measurements of elasticity and TEWL to decrease the SEM.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium. mieke.anthonissen@faber.kuleuven.be
authors.forename: Mieke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anthonissen
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Daly
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fieuws
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Massagé
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van Brussel
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vranckx
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Van den Kerckhove
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications*; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004548:Elasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation; D015588:Observer Variation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult