TIMING OF THE THERMOGRAPHIC ASSESSMENT OF BURNS

The thermographic assessment of bums using infrared imaging has previo usly been shown to be a useful aid in the estimation of burn depth. In this study, thermographic images of burns, obtained from 65 patients over a 4-year period were reviewed. An infrared transparent, water-imp ermeable membrane teas used as a wound cover to abolish evaporative co oling artefacts. Single images were obtained from patients with burns to various parts of the body, excluding the hands. A significant chang e in the temperature of deep burns was observed between days 2 and 3 a fter injury (chi-square, P < 0.01; Fisher exact probability lest betwe en days 2 and 3, P < 0.01). The results of this study suggest that the rmography of barns, to assess depth, should be performed within 3 days following the injury.