title: Validation of a laser-assisted wound measurement device for measuring wound volume.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Accurate and precise wound measurement is an essential part of the medical record when monitoring a patient with a chronic wound. This study was designed to determine if a new device, a laser-assisted wound measurement (LAWM) device, provides valid measurements for wound area, depth, and volume.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared four methods to evaluate the area and volume of 12 wounds of differing size and depth that were created on the dorsum of a sacrificed pig. We evaluated the LAWM device, digital photograph assessment with National Institutes of Health ImageJ software, measurements of depth with a ruler, and weight-to-volume assessment with dental paste. We then sought to cross validate this data with further analyses obtained from these measurements using a Play-Doh®-based wound as a model for constant area with different depths.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We demonstrate that the LAWM device measures wound area accurately. Depth (and therefore volume) measurements, however, are artificially low. This inaccuracy is the same for shallow and deep wounds.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The inaccuracy in the depth and volume measurements with the LAWM device results in an artificially low measurement. However, this may not affect percentage difference measurements. Further studies will need to be performed to determine if this device can accurately determine wound changes in the clinical setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd. F4.310A, Dallas, TX 75390-8560. kathryn.davis@utsouthwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Kathryn E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Fadi C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Constantine
authors.forename: Elaine C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Macaslan
authors.forename: Jessica D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bills
authors.forename: Debby L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Noble
authors.forename: Lawrence A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Lavery
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D061827:Dimensional Measurement Accuracy; D007834:Lasers; D012984:Software; D013552:Swine; D014945:Wound Healing; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000473:pathology*