Efficacy of the Mobile Three-Dimensional Wound Measurement System in Pressure Ulcer Assessment

Abstract

Background: Clinically assessing the changing status of wounds is important in determining management of pressure ulcers. A mobile three-dimensional measurement system (3DWMS) with a laser-assisted sensor camera was recently introduced in several pilot studies. In this study, we used the 3DWMS on pressure ulcer wounds in actual clinical cases. Methods: A total of 26 wounds out of 232 pressure ulcers of various sizes and shapes were reviewed. Widths, lengths, depths, surface areas and volumes of the wounds were assessed two different ways at the same time, using eKare in-Sight and manual measurements using rulers, transparent adhesive films, and saline filling techniques to obtain refer-ence values. Results: According to the paired samples t-tests, the mean differences in the results from the two assessments were not significant for width, length, and surface area (P>0.05), whereas the mean differences for maximum depth and volume were found significant (P<0.05). However, based on the Bland-Altman plot, the two methods were not to be assumed as interchangeable. Conclusion: 3DWMS was found to be reliable for two-dimensional area analysis, whereas for three-dimensional analysis such as depths and volumes, its results were less suited for immediate application to clinical environments. There-fore, clinicians are to decide how to assess pressure ulcer wounds after carefully considering the strengths and weak-nesses of each method.