Investigating the Benefits of a 3D Camera for Recording Healing Wound Dimensions

Chronic and non-healing wounds are a significant problem to manage in community and represent a significant workload in community nursing. The current management for non-healing wounds includes referral to the tissue viability service, using a 2 D photographic image with assessment information. This study will pilot the use of a 3 D camera and associated software that introduces measurement and monitoring of wounds as a specific intervention. The introduction of 3 D measurement and monitoring of wounds will be compared with usual care. With a target recruitment of 30 patients via tissue viability, the pilot will report on the feasibility of using this outcome measure and the effectiveness of monitoring on wound closure or improvement.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients must have a non-healing wound and be over 18 years of age the criteria for non-healing wounds is as per 5.1 on the community nursing referral criteria when considering referral of patients to tissue viability:

'would expect that the wounds are deteriorating, chronic, non-healing or static or there are problems with the dressing regime'

Patients must be willing to provide written informed consent

Patients must have a registered Sheffield General Practitioner and be referred to tissue viability for a static or deteriorating wound

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with circumferential leg ulcers

Patients with deep narrow sinus where the opening is less than 10mm

Wounds on the face where the image would include the eyes or distinguishing features

Patients unable to provide written informed consent.