Use of sphere spectrophotometer in assessment of tissue venous congestion and ischemia of forearm skin. A proof of principle study

Introduction: The colour of the flap is a very important component of clinical monitoring of free flaps. Poor colour memory, eye fatigue, colour blindness and viewing conditions can all affect the human eye’s ability to distinguish colour differences. Early identification of the subtle changes of skin gives better chance of salvage.

Material and method: We carried out a proof of principle study on 18 volunteers using X-rite machine used in colour monitoring of various colour sensitive industries. The study involved assessment of forearm skin colour using this machine and then creating the venous congestion using blood pressure measuring cuff. Colour measurements were taken at 30 s interval for 3 min. The measurement of colour change was calculated using the International Commission on Illumination (CIE) scales {both CIELAB ( L * a * b *) and CIELCH ( L * C * h *) scales}.

Results: Two out of 18 measurements had to be excluded from the study. The value changes (delta) from the pre-study to time graded measurements showed statistically significant changes starting within 30 s. These changes were observed in all participants, showed similar trends in all scales.

Conclusion: There is a potential for using simple, reliable and reproducible technology as an aid in clinical monitoring of free flaps and other tissues.

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Jan 21, 2018 | Posted by in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | Comments Off on Use of sphere spectrophotometer in assessment of tissue venous congestion and ischemia of forearm skin. A proof of principle study

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