A digital assessment and documentation tool evaluated for daily podiatric wound practice

Area of Science:

• Podiatry
• Medical Technology
• Diabetes Management

Background:

• Diabetic foot ulcers are a significant complication requiring regular screening.
• Limited access to wound specialists, particularly in rural areas, necessitates innovative solutions.
• The Wound Healing Analyzing Tool (WHAT) was developed as an IT-based system for wound assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the clinical utility and accuracy of the Wound Healing Analyzing Tool (WHAT) in daily podiatry practice.
• To assess the effectiveness of WHAT in analyzing diabetic foot ulcer characteristics.

Main Methods:

• Eighteen patients with diabetic foot ulcers were enrolled.
• Digital images of ulcers were captured, with a reference square mark for size and condition assessment.
• A blinded physician visually assessed the same images for comparison with WHAT's results.

Main Results:

• WHAT demonstrated high accuracy, with 15 out of 18 results aligning with physician assessments.
• The system correctly scored 87% of images, with minor issues related to the reference mark visibility.
• The tool effectively determined ulcer area and wound bed characteristics.

Conclusions:

• The Wound Healing Analyzing Tool (WHAT) is sufficiently accurate for clinical application in assessing diabetic foot ulcers.
• WHAT presents a viable option for digital consulting and remote wound assessment.
• The technology can support better treatment decisions and potentially reduce amputation rates.