What is the best method for assessing the rate of wound healing? A comparison of 3 mathematical formulas.

OBJECTIVE

To identify and evaluate current mathematical formulas used to assess the rate of wound healing.

DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Systematic Review databases, from 1965 to 2004.

STUDY SELECTION: Papers selected for the study met the following inclusion criteria: (1) participants had chronic venous, neuropathic, pressure, or ischemic wounds; (2) the wounds were objectively measured; and (3) the investigators described and used an objective measurement of wound healing rate, either as an absolute reduction in area over time, a percentage change, or a linear advancement of wound edge. Papers were excluded if they were (1) not written in English, (2) duplicated from other sources, or (3) unpublished.

CONCLUSIONS

In clinical trials, measurement of the rate of wound healing over time by using the equation for the linear advancement of wound margins toward the center of the wound controls for confounding introduced by differing baseline ulcer sizes and shapes. Use of this assessment method after 4 weeks of healing may prove to be of value in predicting time to complete healing. Further research is required to develop standard healing rates for wounds of different etiologies.