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NCT Number: NCT07524062

The Application of Infrared Thermography in the Prediction of Skin Healing in Surgery

This study investigates whether infrared thermography, a harmless and non-invasive thermal camera technique, can help monitor how surgical wounds heal after skin surgery. The goal is to detect wound problems earlier, such as infection or delayed healing, and to support doctors in making timely clinical decisions.

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Key information

Conditions

Wound Healing Infections Neoplasms Neoplasms by Site Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Postoperative Complications Skin Diseases Skin Neoplasms Skin Transplantation Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases Surgical Wound Infection Wound Infection

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

UZLeuven, Department of Dermatology

Leuven, Vlaams Brabant, 3000, Belgium

Location status: Recruiting

About this study

This study evaluates whether infrared thermography, a non-invasive technique that measures skin surface temperature, can help monitor how surgical wounds heal after dermatologic procedures. Surgical wounds may develop complications such as infection, delayed healing, or graft problems, and these issues are often detected only when visible changes appear on the skin. Because temperature changes can occur earlier than visible symptoms, thermal imaging may provide an earlier signal that a wound is not healing normally.

Participants in this study will have thermal images taken at several routine follow-up moments after their skin surgery. The imaging procedure is quick, painless, and does not touch the skin. By comparing temperature patterns over time, the study aims to understand whether specific thermal changes are linked to normal recovery or to early signs of wound problems.

The information gained from this study may help determine if handheld thermal cameras could be used as a supportive tool in clinical practice. Earlier identification of healing problems may allow clinicians to adjust treatment sooner and improve patient outcomes, while also providing a simple, accessible way to document wound progress.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Voluntary written informed consent of the participant or their legally authorized representative has been obtained prior to any screening procedures
  • Adult subjects (>18 years of age) at time of enrolment
  • Patients undergoing a surgical excision under local anesthesia
  • Indications of the excisions were skin lesions suspected to be malignant, skin lesions confirmed to be malignant via prior biopsy

Exclusion criteria

  • Patient has history of pre-existing diabetes type I and II
  • Patients with pre-existing chronic wound problems
  • Patients with renal dysfunction,
  • Patients with venous insufficiency confirmed via radiographic imaging
  • Patients who received radiotherapy in the affected area in the past
  • Patients with chronic steroid use in the past (> 3 months) or a immunosuppressant medication history
  • Female who is pregnant

Treatment and study plan

Infrared Thermography

Device

Participants will undergo non-contact infrared thermography using a handheld thermal imaging device to capture temperature patterns of the surgical wound at predefined postoperative time points. The device is used solely for diagnostic imaging and does not touch the skin or alter wound care. Thermal images are recorded under standardized conditions and analyzed to identify temperature changes that may indicate normal healing or early signs of complications such as infection, delayed healing, or graft failure. This intervention differs from standard clinical follow-up because it adds objective thermal measurements that are not part of routine postoperative assessment.

Primary outcomes

  1. Thermal pattern changes associated with normal versus abnormal surgical wound healing

    Time frame: Postoperative days 2-4 and day 7 for Mohs surgery; day 7 and day 14 for trunk and extremities; postoperative weeks 1-4 for scalp grafts.

    Changes in wound temperature patterns detected through infrared thermography will be evaluated to determine whether they correspond to normal healing or early signs of complications such as infection, delayed healing, or graft problems. Thermal images will be analyzed for differences in temperature distribution, symmetry, and progression over time.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Overall feasibility and clinical utility of infrared thermography

    Time frame: Postoperative days 2-4 and day 7 (Mohs); day 7 and day 14 (trunk/extremities); postoperative weeks 1-4 (scalp).

    This outcome assesses the overall feasibility and clinical utility of infrared thermography in postoperative wound monitoring, based on a combined evaluation of image acquisition success, clinician-reported usability, and its contribution to earlier identification of wound abnormalities. A single composite qualitative outcome will be reported.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Annemiek Leeman, Prof. Dr.

CONTACT

[email protected]

0032 016 33 79 50

Sofie Van Kelst, BSc

CONTACT

[email protected]

0032 016 33 78 64

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Application of Infrared Thermography in the Prediction of Skin Healing in Surgery THERMS: THermography for Evaluation of Recovery and Monitoring of Surgical Wounds

Acronym: THERMS

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2028
Study completion
2028
First posted
Apr 13, 2026
Registry last updated
Jun 18, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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