Using Digital Photography to Study Hand Burns
Author Information
Author(s): Molnar Joseph A., Lew Wesley K., Rapp Derek A., Gordon E. Stanley B., Voignier Denise CMA, Rushing Scott BS, Willner William MA, RBP
Primary Institution: Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Hypothesis
Can standardized digital photography accurately evaluate hand burn depth and wound area in a multicenter trial?
Conclusion
Standardized digital photography is an effective method for quantitatively assessing burn wounds in a multicenter trial.
Supporting Evidence
- Digital photography is a simple and cost-effective method for quantifying wound size.
- The accuracy of the SigmaScan program in calculating predetermined areas was within 4.7%.
- Images obtained by inexperienced photographers proved reliable for clinical evaluation.
Takeaway
This study shows that taking pictures of hand burns with a digital camera can help doctors measure how big the burns are, even if the person taking the pictures isn't a professional.
Methodology
A multicenter, randomized, controlled trial using standardized digital photography and digital planimetry to evaluate hand burn depth and wound area.
Potential Biases
Potential bias from inexperienced photographers and interobserver variations in measurement.
Limitations
The study's accuracy may be affected by operator-dependent errors in calibrating and tracing wound outlines.
Participant Demographics
Initial 20 patients with dorsal hand burns from 7 centers.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.02
Confidence Interval
3.4%–5.9%
Statistical Significance
p<0.02
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