Redefining Wound Healing Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy.

OBJECTIVE: No standard definition for a completely healed wound currently exists; it is recommended that providers use a reliable wound assessment tool to determine healing. The objective of this feasibility study was to determine if a point-of-care, noncontact, near-infrared (NIR) imaging device could provide an objective measure of wound resolution and guide clinical decision-making for the optimal time to transition from protective wound dressings and gradual return to full activity. METHODS: In this single-center feasibility study, adult patients 18 years and older with a lower extremity wound of any size and etiology were seen weekly for wound assessment and standard-of-care treatment. The researchers performed serial imaging with a point-of-care, noncontact, NIR imaging device (Snapshot NIR ; Kent Imaging Inc) to assess the wound and surrounding skin and evaluated the difference in time to 100% reepithelialization on visual inspection and homogeneous tissue oxygen saturation levels at the wound site and surrounding closed skin envelope. RESULTS: An average time difference of 13.5 ± 10 days (median, 12 days; range, 0-35 days) was observed between 100% reepithelialization on visual wound inspection and imaging assessment. Further, NIR imaging could determine when a patient was at risk for recurrent wound breakdown. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of point-of-care, noncontact, NIR imaging may help guide clinical decision-making for the optimal time to transition from protective wound dressings with gradual return to full activity and minimize wound recurrence.

Interpretation of Near-Infrared Imaging in Acute and Chronic Wound Care.

Vascular assessment is a critical component of wound care. Current routine noninvasive vascular studies have limitations which can give a false sense of security of the presence of adequate perfusion for healing. Near-infrared imaging modalities can serve as an additional diagnostic assessment of wounds in which adequate perfusion is a concern. Correct interpretation of near-infrared images obtained is critical as subtleties that exist in the acute and chronic wound population goes beyond the interpretation that increased signal is consistent with adequate perfusion for healing. The objective of this paper is to educate providers on the correct interpretation of this point-of-care imaging modality in day-to-day wound-care practice to guide clinical decision-making for rapid wound resolution.