Practice Innovations
Research with pressure injuries (PI) has shown that higher periwound temperature (PWT) vs. wound bed temperature (WBT) resulted in better wound healing (p=0.028).1
The objective was to utilize the WBT and PWT to determine early indications of delayed healing vs. wound progression in chronic wounds beyond only PI.
Methods: LWIT images were taken during wound assessments; all wounds had a positive healing progression. The LWIT software measured the mean wound bed temperature (WBT) and the mean periwound temperature (PWT) -within 0.5 cm circumference of the wound. The WBTs and the PWTs were compared, looking at increases or decreases in temperature at the peri-wound. LWIT Images were collected before wound cleansing or debridement to avoid altering the wound bed temperature measurements.
Results: At each assessment of wounds on a positive healing progression, the mean PWT was
equal to or warmer than the mean WBT. This data showed venous and venous/arterial mix etiologies had similar results as PI’s; the warmer PWT measurement compared to the WBT correlated with wound progression as an early predictor of wound healing.
Case 1: venous/arterial mix, PWT 0-1˚C > WBT
Case 2: venous, PWT 1-1.2˚C > WBT
Case 3: venous, PWT 0.3-4.1˚C > WBT Case 4: venous, PWT 0.5-0.9˚C > WBT Case 5: venous, PWT 0.6-1.5˚C > WBT
Discussion:
Temperature is a physiological thermoregulatory mechanism. Cellular and metabolic activity, along with clinical changes, occur during the healing process. Thermal energy produced may be higher due to inflammation/infection, while lower temperatures can indicate a slower healing rate due to decreased perfusion/oxygen.2,3