Dynamic optical coherence tomography of chronic venous ulcers.

BACKGROUND

Chronic ulcers, especially venous leg ulcers, are a major burden on the healthcare system. To date there are only few non-invasive established procedures for evaluation of blood perfusion in wounds. Dynamic optical coherence tomography (D-OCT) provides images of the skin's superficial vascularisation.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to investigate if and how the D-OCT measurement of chronic wounds can provide new information about the vascularisation during the healing process.

METHODS

We examined 16 venous ulcers over 16 weeks and evaluated the vessel morphology and density using D-OCT at the wound bed, borders, two centimetres adjacent to the wound und at non-ulcerated skin on the contralateral leg.

RESULTS

In D-OCT scans clumps were unique and the most common vessel type in the wound area of venous ulcers, whereas lines and serpiginous vessels were the most common in non-ulcerated skin. At the wound border mottle and cluster patterns occurred more frequently. Healthy skin showed a significant increase of mesh pattern. Vessel density significantly increased at the wound area compared to non-ulcerated skin. During the healing process the wound border showed the most vascular changes while only an increase in curves was observed in the wound centre. Non-healing wounds had fewer dots and blobs at the borders, fewer dots, coils, clumps, lines and serpiginous vessels at the centre and fewer dots in adjacent skin. Temperature analysis showed higher temperatures in non-ulcerated skin, followed by the wound margin and centre. Non-healing wounds showed the lowest temperatures in the wound centre.

CONCLUSIONS

These results highlight the non-invasive use of D-OCT for the examination and monitoring of wound healing in chronic venous ulcers. D-OCT imaging of blood vessels may offer the potential to detect disorders of wound healing at an early stage, differentiate ulcers of different genesis and to tailor more individualized, patient-oriented therapy.