Photography for Wound Management For patients with limited mobility, it may be easier to photograph certain anatomical areas with the patient lying on their bed rather than seated in a chair. The heels/ posterior aspects of the lower limbs are one particular area that can be easier (and safer from a manual handling point of view for the photographer – see section 7.2 for further information) to photograph if the patient is lying on a bed. If the patient is able to turn onto their side, photography of this area can be easier to achieve (Figure 25). Figure 25. Posterior left calf. Patient remained in hospital bed throughout photography.
The foot was supported and elevated by nursing staff so that the bed did not obstruct the view of any part of the calf. A white background was held in place behind the leg to avoid including the cubicle curtain. 7.4 Sequence of photography The sequence of photography and the images taken of a wound will vary between patients (and will also depend on the type of wound being photographed) although in general, a standard practice for photography should be followed. A location/establishing view of where on the body the wound is situated including a wide area of healthy tissue (which allows for wound growth or retraction) should be taken.
Following this, a separate close-up view(s) to show detail within the wound should be taken with a measurement scale included. The same view without a measurement scale should also be taken to demonstrate that no important detail was concealed by its use (Figure 26). Figure 26. Recommended sequence of photography. clinical photography, design and video in healthcare page 19