title: Comparison of a new laser beam wound camera and a digital photoplanimetry-based method for wound measurement in horses.
abstract: The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy, precision, inter- and intra-operator reliability of a new laser beam (LB) wound camera and a digital photoplanimetry-based (DPB) method for measuring the dimensions of equine wounds. Forty-one wounds were created on equine cadavers. The area, circumference, maximum depth and volume of each wound were measured four times with both techniques by two operators. A silicone cast was made of each wound and served as the reference standard to measure the wound dimensions. The DPB method had a higher accuracy and precision in determining the wound volume compared with the LB camera, which had a higher accuracy in determining the wound area and maximum depth and better precision in determining the area and circumference. The LB camera also had a significantly higher overall inter-operator reliability for measuring the wound area, circumference and volume. In contrast, the DPB method had poor intra-operator reliability for the wound circumference. The LB camera was more user-friendly than the DPB method. The LB wound camera is recommended as the better objective method to assess the dimensions of wounds in horses, despite its poorer performance for the measurement of wound volume. However, if the wound measurements are performed by one operator on cadavers or animals under general anaesthesia, the DPB method is a less expensive and valid alternative.
authors: Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 133 Salisburylaan, Merelbeke 9820, Belgium. Electronic address: lore.vanhecke@ugent.be.
authors: L L
authors: LL
authors: Van Hecke
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 133 Salisburylaan, Merelbeke 9820, Belgium.
authors: T A
authors: TA
authors: De Mil
authors: Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 133 Salisburylaan, Merelbeke 9820, Belgium.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Haspeslagh
authors: Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Poultry Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 133 Salisburylaan, Merelbeke 9820, Belgium.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Chiers
authors: Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, 133 Salisburylaan, Merelbeke 9820, Belgium.
authors: A M
authors: AM
authors: Martens
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002102:Cadaver; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D006736:Horses / Q000293:injuries*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation; D015588:Observer Variation; D010781:Photography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000662:veterinary*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014945:Wound Healing; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Horse; Laser; Measurement; Planimetry; Wound