Wound Measurement and Documentation is an Essential Component of Wound Assessment
Modern wound management is a very focused and challenging field of practice. Chronic and acute wounds can be deceptive so reliable, consistent, comprehensive, and accurate wound descriptions and documentation over time are essential in properly assessing a wound. These assessments assist in guiding the wound management process and treatment pathway.
“Care plans, treatment interventions, case management, and discharge planning, as well as ongoing patient and wound management, are all based on the initial and subsequent wound assessments.”
– Wound Care Essentials, Sharon Baranoski MSN RN CWOCN APN FAAN, Elizabeth A. Ayello PhD
Wound measurement is one of the best ways to assess if a wound is getting smaller and changing over time. Wound measurements are a standard and important part of wound care practice and can be assessed and classified using many different approaches and various tools. SnapshotNIR is a near-infrared (NIR), reflectance-based technology that measures tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) in superficial tissue. Using multiple wavelengths of NIR light, SnapshotNIR measures relative amounts of oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin in the microcirculation where oxygen exchange is happening. Snapshot provides users with a tissue oxygenation map and wound measurement in one single handheld device that can be used in medical decision-making, for tracking and trending oxygenation, and evaluating tissue viability.
The device provides tools for both linear and area measurements that can be used to record and track approximate changes in size over time. Measurements can be made on either the clinical (RGB) or StO2 image that the medical imaging device provides and will translate to the alternate view automatically. Acquiring a measurement is done directly on the screen by simply outlining the shape or dragging a linear line with your finger or a stylus. The area measurement tool can calculate the size and average tissue oxygenation value within a user-defined area of interest. The area within the boundary measured is calculated in square centimeters (cm2) and the average tissue oxygen saturation within the area is displayed.
SnapshotNIR is exceptionally easy to use, portable and lightweight. Both Doctors and nurses can operate it. It’s similar to taking a picture on an iPad or digital camera with data obtained in a matter of seconds. The precise visualization of oxygen saturation, as well as wound and peri-wound measurement, allows for more accurate assessments and healing trajectory predictions. With the ability to capture all these critical tissue health factors at once, SnapshotNIR is the ideal point-of-care tool to track and document patient progress to improve clinical outcomes and mitigate risks early.
Source: Sharon Baranoski MSN RN CWOCN APN FAAN, Elizabeth A. Ayello Ph.D. - Wound Care Essentials (2020, LWW) - libgen.li
All measurements on your captured images should be made from head to toe and hip to hip - 12:00 o'clock to 6 o'clock and 3:00 o’clock to 9:00 o’clock.