Of mice and wounds reproducibility and accuracy of a novel planimetry program for measuring wound area

The aim of the study was to assess the reproducibility and accuracy of a ne w planimeter program for measuring wound areas from tracings on transparent plastic grids using the computer mouse as the digitizer. Reproducibility ( intra-tester variability), tested by carrying out three consecutive measure s on 192 tracings, was satisfactory, as demonstrated by the high intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) (0.99). Accuracy was assessed by comparison with a computer-assisted planimetric method, using imaging processing soft ware after scanning the tracings. One hundred sixty-two tracings of neuropa thic diabetic ic ulcers were analyzed. There was a close correlation betwee n the two methods of measurement (r = 0.998, SEE = 0.431 cm(2)) and agreeme nt was excellent as reflected by ICC, Lin concordance coefficient, and Blan d and Altman statistics. By contrast applying mathematical formula after me asuring the length and width of wounds or counting the number of squares co mpletely inside the tracings led to unacceptable errors. On the other hand, counting both completely and partially included squares gave rather fair r esults. As a result, the planimetry program appears to be a reproducible an d accurate method of wound measurement. its ease of use and cost efficiency render this system suitable in everyday practice or for clinical research. in absence of a basic computer, the counting procedure may be an attractiv e alternative.