Static thermography revisited—An adjunct method for determining the depth of the burn injury

• Published in: Burns 2005-09, Vol.31 (6), p.768-775
• Main Authors: Renkielska, Alicja, Nowakowski, Antoni, Kaczmarek, Mariusz, Dobke, Marek K., Grudziński, Jacek, Karmolinski, Andrzej, Stojek, Wojciech
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Burns - pathology; Burns - physiopathology; Burns depth; Predictive Value of Tests; Prognosis; Sensitivity and Specificity; Skin Temperature; Static thermography; Swine; Thermography - methods; Treatment; Wound Healing
• ISSN: 0305-4179; 1879-1409
• DOI: 10.1016/j.burns.2005.04.006

The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between the static thermography figure of merit Δ T (the difference in mean values of skin area temperature for the burn wound area and the unaffected reference skin area) and a means of burn classification which would be most suitable for the choice of treatment. The work was an in vivo animal experiment. Statistical analysis showed a high correlation between the Δ T parameter and histopathological assessment. With regard to the choice of treatment, the most useful correlation was found to be that between Δ T and the classification of burn wounds into those healed in 3 weeks and those unhealed. The results of this study have revealed a quantitative criterion Δ T for burn classification. The study suggests that particular burn centres using static thermography use a Δ T parameter based on their own values for burn classification so as to group burn wounds into those that healed in 3 weeks and those that did not heal. This criterion should be independent of and replace other classification systems. A criterion for the proper choice of burn treatment would then be made more readily available.