The reliability of a handheld wound measurement and documentation device in clinical practice

The aim of this study was to evaluate the precision (intra- and interrater variability) and usability of a new handheld wound measurement device designed to measure wound surface area and depth across a range of typical wound types.

Raters included a doctor, a nurse, and a novice who was unfamiliar with wound care and the study equipment. Patients of nurse maude, a community-based home health organization in christchurch, new zealand, were assessed at either the wound clinic or the patient's home.

Five repeated area and depth measurements were made on 5 different wounds by the 3 raters, resulting in up to 75 area and depth measurements. The time taken to make each measurement was also recorded.

This study evaluated a handheld wound imaging, measurement, and documentation device (SilhouetteMobile, ARANZ Medical Limited, Christchurch, New Zealand).

Variances and coefficients of variation (CV) between raters (interrater) and within raters (intrarater) over the 5 wounds were calculated, as was the intraclass correlation coefficient. Inter- and intrarater precision for surface area was 3.2% and 2.6%, respectively, and depth 13.5% and 5.5%, respectively; intraclass correlation coefficients for area and depth were 99.76% and 98.95%, respectively. Approximately 2 minutes were required to capture photographic documentation and perform area and depth measurements. Use of the device provided practitioners and patients with immediate feedback on wound healing progress.

The device was found to have low intra- and interrater variation. The photographic record and measurements can be collected in approximately 2 minutes and in a noncontact fashion. A novice user was able to use the device proficiently with 1 hour of training.