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Measuring the size of ulcers by planimetry: a useful method in the clinical setting

Oien, R F ; Håkansson, Anders LU ; Hansen, B U and Bjellerup, M (2002) In Journal of Wound Care 11(5). p.165-168
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare four measurement methods. Digital planimetry was compared with mechanical planimetry, placing the film over graph paper and counting the squares (grid tracing), and multiplying the two maximal perpendicular diameters of the ulcer (diameter product). METHOD: Twenty patients with 50 chronic leg ulcers of various aetiology and sizes (20 ulcers were < or = 3 cm2, 15 ulcers were > 3 cm2 and < or = 10 cm2, and 15 ulcers were > 10 cm2) were enrolled consecutively into this study. Ulcer area was calculated from film transparency tracings using a digital planimeter, a mechanical planimeter, grid tracing and diameter product. RESULTS: The mean difference of digital planimetry versus... (More)
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare four measurement methods. Digital planimetry was compared with mechanical planimetry, placing the film over graph paper and counting the squares (grid tracing), and multiplying the two maximal perpendicular diameters of the ulcer (diameter product). METHOD: Twenty patients with 50 chronic leg ulcers of various aetiology and sizes (20 ulcers were < or = 3 cm2, 15 ulcers were > 3 cm2 and < or = 10 cm2, and 15 ulcers were > 10 cm2) were enrolled consecutively into this study. Ulcer area was calculated from film transparency tracings using a digital planimeter, a mechanical planimeter, grid tracing and diameter product. RESULTS: The mean difference of digital planimetry versus mechanical planimetry, grid tracing and diameter product was 0.51 cm2, 0.72 cm2 and -5.38 cm2, respectively. For all methods difference tended to increase with ulcer size. CONCLUSION: Digital and mechanical planimetry, together with grid tracing, appear to be appropriate means of obtaining accurate surface area measurements. Digital planimetry is a quick and practical method and could therefore be recommended in the clinical setting. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of Wound Care
volume
11
issue
5
pages
165 - 168
publisher
Emap Healthcare Limited
external identifiers
  • pmid:12055939
  • scopus:0036580987
ISSN
0969-0700
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
c8edb738-89c5-4327-b423-12242409ef50 (old id 1124133)
alternative location
http://www.journalofwoundcare.com/cgi-bin/go.pl/library/abstract.html?uid=26399
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 17:05:30
date last changed
2022-04-15 17:05:51
@article{c8edb738-89c5-4327-b423-12242409ef50,
  abstract     = {{OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare four measurement methods. Digital planimetry was compared with mechanical planimetry, placing the film over graph paper and counting the squares (grid tracing), and multiplying the two maximal perpendicular diameters of the ulcer (diameter product). METHOD: Twenty patients with 50 chronic leg ulcers of various aetiology and sizes (20 ulcers were &lt; or = 3 cm2, 15 ulcers were &gt; 3 cm2 and &lt; or = 10 cm2, and 15 ulcers were &gt; 10 cm2) were enrolled consecutively into this study. Ulcer area was calculated from film transparency tracings using a digital planimeter, a mechanical planimeter, grid tracing and diameter product. RESULTS: The mean difference of digital planimetry versus mechanical planimetry, grid tracing and diameter product was 0.51 cm2, 0.72 cm2 and -5.38 cm2, respectively. For all methods difference tended to increase with ulcer size. CONCLUSION: Digital and mechanical planimetry, together with grid tracing, appear to be appropriate means of obtaining accurate surface area measurements. Digital planimetry is a quick and practical method and could therefore be recommended in the clinical setting.}},
  author       = {{Oien, R F and Håkansson, Anders and Hansen, B U and Bjellerup, M}},
  issn         = {{0969-0700}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{165--168}},
  publisher    = {{Emap Healthcare Limited}},
  series       = {{Journal of Wound Care}},
  title        = {{Measuring the size of ulcers by planimetry: a useful method in the clinical setting}},
  url          = {{http://www.journalofwoundcare.com/cgi-bin/go.pl/library/abstract.html?uid=26399}},
  volume       = {{11}},
  year         = {{2002}},
}