Feasibility of a non-invasive skin biomechanical device for rapid assessment of pediatric dehydration: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND

Dehydration in children remains a common yet potentially life-threatening clinical challenge, particularly in primary care and emergency settings where rapid, objective, and non-invasive assessment tools are limited. Skin biomechanics may offer a new way of measuring hydration status.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the utility of a non-invasive skin biomechanical measurement device (MyotonPro®) in differentiating hydration status in children aged 6 months to 6 years.

METHODS

In this prospective case-control study conducted at Gaziantep University Hospital, 64 children were evaluated using the MyotonPro® device at three anatomical sites: 1.5 cm above the umbilicus, and 4 cm above the wrist on the posterior surfaces of both arms. Dehydration was defined by serum osmolality ≥ 290 mOsm/kg or urine specific gravity > 1.025. Oscillation frequency, dynamic stiffness, and elasticity were measured and compared between dehydrated (n = 32) and non-dehydrated (n = 32) participants. Laboratory results and World Health Organization clinical dehydration scale findings were analysed and compared with the device measurements.

RESULTS

Children in the dehydration group exhibited significantly lower oscillation frequency (18.75 ± 2.63 Hz vs. 20.64 ± 4.16 Hz; p = 0.034) and dynamic stiffness (430.06 ± 83.60 N/m vs. 499.78 ± 169.28 N/m; p = 0.042) in the right arm. Although similar results were observed in the left arm, there was no statistically significant difference. Biochemical markers such as creatinine, sodium, plasma osmolality, and urine specific gravity were significantly elevated in the dehydration group. Correlations were observed between MyotonPro® parameters and serum creatinine, BUN, and albumin levels.

CONCLUSION

MyotonPro® demonstrated significant differences in selected parameters (right arm oscillation frequency and stiffness), suggesting potential sensitivity to hydration status. However, its overall discriminative ability was limited. Therefore, MyotonPro® may serve as a supportive, but not standalone, tool in clinical decision-making for monitoring hydration levels, particularly in primary care and emergency settings.