title: Transepidermal oxygen flux measurement - First clinical application for postoperative wound monitoring.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Measurement of skin oxygen is of great interest in diverse fields of medicine. Different pathologies, e.g. infection, ischemia cancer or chronic wounds show a characteristic oxygen distribution and skin oxygen tension. Additionally diverse operative procedures require a reliable postoperative monitoring in order to ensure success of the therapy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Aim of this study was to assess transepidermal oxygen flux for postoperative wound monitoring after operative treatment of fractures close to the hip.
  
  
  METHODS
  22 patients underwent transepidermal oxygen flux measurement at the first postoperative day. Transepidermal oxygen flux measurement was performed using ratiometric luminescence imaging. Examination was conducted in close proximity to the operation wound. The corresponding area at the contralateral side served as reference.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Oxygen flux in the operation area was higher (0.084±0.021) than the contralateral side (0.071±0.029).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transepidermal oxygen flux imaging by ratiometric luminescence imaging seems to be a reliable tool to assess postoperative wound healing. However further investigations in greater populations and under pathologic conditions have to be performed to prove these first results.
authors.affiliation: Center of Plastic, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ranieri
authors.affiliation: Center of Plastic, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.affiliation: Center of Plastic, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Taeger
authors.affiliation: Center of Plastic, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kotrade
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nerlich
authors.affiliation: Center of Plastic, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dolderer
authors.affiliation: Center of Plastic, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Prantl
authors.affiliation: Center of Plastic, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Geis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000502:physiology*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D014021:Tissue Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Tissue oxygenation; microcirculation; postoperative monitoring; wound monitoring