State-of-the-Art Review of Current Technology in Pressure Injury Early Detection

To review currently available devices on pressure injury (PI) early detection, summarize challenges and opportunities to clinical implementation, and propose evaluation standards for device categories.

PubMed and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) databases.

Published in English from peer-reviewed journals with full text available. Excluded if opinion statements, lack of empirical data, or unrelated to project's objective.

For both clinical device and research equipment: measurement mechanisms, measurement types, outcome/output, FDA classification, and indications for use. Addition data were extracted for clinical devices: instruction for use, end user, order requirement, and billable code.

The 4 clinical devices are ultrasound, long-wave infrared thermography, subepidermal moisture assessment, and nearinfrared spectroscopy. The 3 research devices are laser Doppler flowmetry, laser speckle contrast imaging, and colorimetry.

The measurement mechanisms of all devices are unique and different from each other. One commonality is that they could measure the nonvisual signs of PI (eg, inflammation, edema, ischemia, and hypoxia) except colorimeter. Some clinical devices are promising to assist with early identification of PIs, especially in individuals with dark skin tones. Currently, there is no reimbursement available for early detection of PI. Current evidence did not support replacing the standard skin assessment of visual inspection and palpation with the devices reviewed, rather using validated devices to augment the current practice standard. This is especially recommended for individuals identified as high risk for a PI on admission to a facility.