Photography for Wound Management Pressure ulcers may also be defined as ‘unstageable’ (whereby the depth is unknown because the base of the ulcer is covered with slough and/or necrotic tissue) (Figure 10), or as a ‘deep tissue injury’ (an area of discoloured, intact skin or a blood-filled blister with damage to the underlying tissue) (Figure 11). Recording the size of a wound at first presentation is essential for provision of a baseline guide from which to monitor progress against and to determine whether a wound may be healing, deteriorating or static.
Measurements can be taken of a wound’s length, width, depth and volume and there are a number of methods for measuring wounds including; clinical photography, design and video in healthcare page 9 Figure 10. Unstageable Figure 11. Deep tissue injury 3D scanning a wound is scanned and the results downloaded to a computer to provide length, width and depth measurements before volumetric measurements are calculated automatically. Acetate the outline of the wound is traced onto an acetate tracing grid tracing with the depth being measured with a probing device. Volumetric measurements are calculated by multiplying length, width, and depth.
Ruler method a disposable ruler and the depth measured with a probing device. Volumetric measurements are calculated by multiplying length, width and depth.