Laser Doppler Flowmetry and Transcutaneous Oximetry in Chronic Skin Ulcers: A Comparative Evaluation

Laser Doppler Flowmetry (LDF) and transcutaneous oximetry (TcpO2) are established methods for investigating cutaneous perfusion. To date, no study previously performed has compared data obtained from these 2 methodologies in cases of chronic cutaneous ulcers.

Laser Doppler Flowmetry and TcpO2 were performed in 25 consecutive outpatients with chronic lower limb ulcers (group A, experimental; 9 women and 16 men; mean age 67 years [range, 52-81 years]) and 25 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects (group B, control) enrolled for the study. Ulcer aetiologies included 12 peripheral arterial occlusive disease, 9 chronic venous insufficiencies, and 4 pressure ulcers. Data were analyzed with Shapiro-Wilk and Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney tests.

A statistically significant difference (P < .05) was found between LDF values of the 2 groups. No statistically significant differences were found between the 2 groups regarding the TcpO2 measurements.

The data confirmed the soundness of LDF while investigating local perfusion in patients with chronic cutaneous ulcers. The same diagnostic accuracy was not obtained by means of TcpO2.