Using augmented reality to improve patient outcomes with negative pressure wound therapy

Augmented reality (AR) is a burgeoning digital technology that is finding more frequent use in health care. The benefits of AR, such as hands-free imaging and remote viewing, make this a tool particularly suited to wound care. To the author's knowledge, no attempts have been made to leverage this technology in a way that might improve patient outcomes. Similarly, few studies on remote wound consultation focus on the inpatient setting.

This study demonstrated the use of AR to improve the outcome of patients undergoing negative pressure wound therapy.

A case-control study of 27 patients treated in a rural Louisiana hospital was performed. A retrospective control group (n = 15) was identified and compared with similar cases (n = 12) that used AR by the bedside nursing staff and an offsite certified wound care clinician.

At univariate analysis, the treatment group was found to have fewer unintended surgical revisions (P =.002), fewer interruptions in therapy time (P =.01), and fewer readmissions related to wound infection (P =.004) compared with the control group. Correlational testing was performed and showed a significant correlation between the number of dressings performed and the number of complications that arose (0.71) as well as between premature dressing removals and number of readmissions related to infection (0.74).

The results of this study, although preliminary, show how AR can be used in the acute care setting to positively influence outcomes of patients undergoing wound care. Further testing is necessary to replicate these findings and assess the use of AR with other advanced modalities or for other indications in the acute care setting.