Clinically Proven And Approved Systems For Burn Assessment

I have been involved in the treatment of children with burn injuries since 1994. One of the major difficulties our unit has experienced in the management of this challenging group of patients has been predicting burn wound outcome, especially following a scald burn. Following our initial investigations with the Moor LDI system in 2000, we have now come to rely upon this system to help us determine which burn wounds will heal as opposed to those that will require grafting. The new LDLS represents a further advance, with its increased speed, reduced size and greater mobility facilitating its use in our busy burns unit.

We started using LDI in our routine clinical practice since in 2008. This enabled more precise burn depth estimation and finally resulted in decreased healing time in majority of burn wounds. LDI became essential instrument for burn depth assessment in all clinical studies performed in the Department. Easy and quick performance, convenient evaluation of scan results and extremely high accuracy of burn depth assessment (97%) obtained with the LDI were main advantages for using this equipment in burn unit. We continue our practice with LDI.

Laser Doppler Imaging (LDI) has been used in our Burns Unit since 1991. It is now part of the routine assessment of all burns. Patients are scanned with the moorLDI at 48 hours or on admission, if this is later than 48 hours after burning. We have been able to improve the accuracy of assessment of burn depth from 65% to 96%. This ensures that our patients receive the most appropriate and cost-effective treatment of their burns.

Laser doppler imaging (LDI2-BI) has been used in our Burns and Plastic Surgery Unit since 2008. 280 patients was assessed during the last 5 years period. Majority of pediatric burns are scalds (about 87%). Scalds are much more difficult to assess clinically, because they are of mixed and/or intermediate depth. Laser Doppler imaging gives us an early and accurate diagnosis. LDI assessment we combined with clinical assessment of the burn wound. The most accurate results of LDI assessment we have got at 4-5th day post burn. LDI2-BI allows us to reach highest standards in pediatric burns care.

Independently Validated and Highly Accurate Burn Assessment from Day 2 with Moor Instruments

Time and again we are confronted with our shortcomings in clinical burn depth assessment by the results of LDI. Based on the predicted healing time, the moorLDI helps us to confidently select the right treatment for our patients much earlier.

We started using the LDI in a randomised controlled trial into its cost effectiveness. This study showed us the added value of the LDI in our decision making process. In our opinion you cannot do without it in a burn centre. The objective assessment of burn makes the LDI a highly valuable tool.

As a previous Burn Consultant and Service Lead for the Greater London Burn Service, I used the Moor LDI system as an integral part of my burn practice for the past 8 years. It augmented my clinical assessment of burn wound depth in those cases where it was difficult to be certain whether a burn was going to heal within a time frame that makes scarring unlikely. I certainly support the published data that suggests there is an increased accuracy of burn wound depth assessment when experienced clinical judgement is combined with the Laser Doppler.