• M R Jerath, K T Schomacker, R L Sheridan, and N S Nishioka.
• Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston 02114, USA.
• J Trauma. 1999 Jun 1;46(6):1085-8.

BackgroundAn accurate assessment of deep dermal burns within the first week after burn is still an unresolved clinical problem. Infrared-excited fluorescence of indocyanine green was examined as a method of early determination of burn depth.MethodsBurns of varying depths were placed on the paraspinal region, flank, and abdomen of swine using a heated brass block. Fluorescence images of the burns were recorded 1, 24, 48, and 72 hours later.ResultsThe ratio of fluorescence in 64 burn wounds relative to adjacent normal tissue identified wounds that healed and did not heal within 21 days with an accuracy of 100%, after accounting for the age of the burn. Higher fluorescence ratios were observed in newly placed burns relative to older burns having comparable depths.ConclusionDeep partial-thickness burns were differentiated from deep dermal full-thickness burns in a porcine skin burn model independent of body location. Diagnosis was possible between 1 and 72 hours after injury.

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