title: A simplified three-dimensional volume measurement technique in keloid scars: Validity and reliability.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Effective treatment of keloid scars is important because patients are often confronted with major cosmetic, psychological, and social consequences. Three-dimensional (3D) imaging has been reported for the evaluation of keloid treatment. These techniques were complex to use in clinical practice. In this study, the validity and reliability of a simplified 3D volume measurement technique are defined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three scars were simulated using deformable modeling compound. The volume of the compound is calculated using the weight and density of the modeling compound, and it is compared with the 3D volume measurement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean simulated keloid volume was 2.884 cc. The correlation was very high (r = 0.999), but there was a significant mean difference of 0.252 cc (p < 0.001). This was corrected using a formula, actual volume = 1.072 × measured volume. This formula was validated using a new data set of 33 simulated scars. There was a nonsignificant mean difference of 0.010 cc (p = 0.731).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This 3D measurement technique combined with the correcting formula is valid and reliable to be used in practice for the evaluation of keloid scar treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre, P Debyelaan 25, 6229HX Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: van der Aa
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre, P Debyelaan 25, 6229HX Maastricht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: svenna3@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: S H W L
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Verhiel
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre, P Debyelaan 25, 6229HX Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erends
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre, P Debyelaan 25, 6229HX Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Piatkowski de Grzymala
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre, P Debyelaan 25, 6229HX Maastricht, The Netherlands; KU Leuven, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faber, Universitaire Ziekenhuizen Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Burns Center, Universitaire Ziekenhuizen Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Van den Kerckhove
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre, P Debyelaan 25, 6229HX Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Colla
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre, P Debyelaan 25, 6229HX Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R R W J
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: van der Hulst
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007627:Keloid / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: Hypertrophic scars; Keloids; Objective follow-up; Scar assessment; Three-dimensional imaging