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Practical Applicability of Noninvasive, Optical Outcome Measures for Postoperative Wound Assessment in Dermatologic
Helena M Nammour1, Julien Bourgeois1, Anthony Linfante2
1John P. and Katherine G. McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas.
Background:
Various bedside imaging devices, such as reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM), optical coherence tomography (OCT), line-field confocal optical coherence tomography (LC-OCT), and high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) have been applied to quantify and objectively measure functional wound closure, enable noninvasive wound surveillance, and predict defective scar formation early on. Despite their efficacy, a lack of consolidated data on their practical application limits clinical understanding of these emerging technologies.
Objective:
To evaluate various noninvasive optical imaging devices for postoperative wound assessment, specifically comparing the advantages, limitations, and practical applicability of each technique in dermatologic surgery.
Materials And Methods:
A literature review identified 32 articles discussing the utility of RCM, OCT, LC-OCT, and HFUS for wound and scar assessment.
Results:
Each of the discussed measures are advantageous to postoperative examination of skin changes, offering insightful information that supports gross clinical inspection and histopathology. Significant trade-offs can be observed between depth penetration and image resolution among each device.
Conclusion:
Application of bedside imaging to evaluate wounds can optimize cosmetic outcomes, predict early scar formation, and decrease recovery duration.
