Thermal imaging and planimetry evaluation of the results of chronic wounds treatment with hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Background. One of the methods to treat chronic wounds is the use of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO). Objective measurement of the wound surface is an important element in the process of monitoring and predicting the progress of treatment. Objectives. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on ulcer wound healing in patients with chronic venous insufficiency ulcers and diabetic foot syndrome using thermal imaging and computerized planimetry. Material and methods. During a 3-year period, 284 digital computer planimetry measurements were gathered from 142 patients treated for leg ulcers caused by chronic venous insufficiency and ulcers from diabetic foot syndrome at HBOT Unit of the Dr Stanisław Sakiel Centre for Burns Treatment in Siemianowice Śląskie (Poland). Each patient took 30 HBOT sessions using a Haux multiplace HBO chamber at a pressure of 2.5 atmospheres absolute (ATA). The results of the treatment were monitored using thermovision and computerassisted planimetry measurements performed before and after HBOT. Results. Both groups of patients exhibited a reduction in the surface and perimeter of the wound after HBOT. The treatment effects were also confirmed with thermal imaging. The areas calculated from thermal imaging and planimetry are different but correlated. Conclusions. It seems that a combination of thermal imaging and planimetry may enhance the diagnosis as well as provide the physician with more information about therapy effects

Thermal effects of topical hyperbaric oxygen therapy in hard-to-heal wounds - a pilot study

Clinical studies have been performed to evaluate the thermal response of topical hyperbaric oxygen therapy (THBOT) in patients suffering from hard-to-heal wounds diagnosed as venous leg ulcers located on their lower extremities. It was found that this therapy leads to a temperature decrease in areas around the wound. Moreover, a minor temperature differentiation between all areas was seen in the third period of topical hyperbaric oxygen therapy (THBOT) that may suggest that microcirculation and thermoregulation improvement start the healing process. On the other hand, the results of the conducted studies seem to prove that thermal imaging may provide a safe and effective method of analyzing wound healing of hard-to-heal wounds being treated with THBOT. This is the first study that tries to show the possibilities of a very new method by evaluating treatment of hard-to-heal wounds using thermal imaging, similar to the hyperbaric oxygen therapy effects evaluated by thermal imaging and described previously. However, the first clinical results showed a decrease in temperature due to the THBOT session and some qualitative similarities in the decrease in temperature differentiation between the studied areas and the temperature effects obtained due to hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Thermal imaging in burns diagnostics

W ostatnich latach nastąpił ogromny rozwój w zastosowaniu termowizji w medycynie. Wizualizacja rozkładu temperatury ludzkiego ciała stanowi bardzo cenne informacje diagnostyczne, odzwierciedlając istotne procesy metaboliczne zachodzące w organizmie. W związku z powyższym, wszystkie odstępstwa od typowej wartości temperatury badanego fragmentu ciała mogą świadczyć o nieprawidłowości w fizjologii organizmu. Niniejsza praca prezentuje pierwsze doświadczenia naszej grupy badawczej w pokazaniu znaczenia nieinwazyjnej techniki obrazowania ciała człowieka, która może być przydatna w diagnostyce oparzeń. Mając na celu szybkie, bezbolesne oraz łatwo dostępne diagnozowanie ran oparzeniowych, termowizja może stanowić pomocnicze urządzenie do automatycznego wyznaczania obszarów wymagających leczenia chirurgicznego oraz wyodrębnienia obszarów nadających się do leczenia zachowawczego. Grupę badawczą stanowiło 25 pacjentów zakwalifikowanych w zakresie stopnia IIa, IIb oraz III. Badania zostały przeprowadzone we współpracy z Centrum Leczenia Oparzeń im. dr. Stanisława Sakiela w Siemianowicach Śląskich pod opieką lekarzy zespołu chirurgicznego. Wstępna analiza termograficzna obszarów zainteresowania wskazuje na różnice w wartościach średnich temperatur pomiędzy obszarami objętymi oparzeniem a obszarami sąsiadującymi.There was dynamic increase in use of thermal imaging in medicine during last two decades. Visualization of body surface thermal map brings some important diagnostic information about metabolically activity of the inner tissue and the differences in observed body temperature in comparison with normal body temperature range may suggest disease process occurring. Presented studies are the first step of our research group in the thermal imaging of skin burns. It seems that non-invasive, fast and simply in use thermovision may bring some important and useful information in evaluation of skin burns. The study included 25 patients suffered from skin burns in IIa, IIb and III stage. The study was carried out at Burn Treatment Center memorial Dr Stanislaw Sakiel in Siemianowice Śląskie. Preliminary analysis showed some differences in mean temperature characterized areas in II and III burn stage