Patients who lie or sit for long periods of time may develop pressure sores (also called “pressure ulcers”). These are wounds in which the skin tissue is no longer properly supplied with oxygen through the blood. In this study, we want to find out how the tissue supply changes depending on the depth of the wound (wound severity), to potentially allow for an earlier and more precise therapy of this type of wound. The temperature of the wound and the skin around it is sometimes higher or lower than in healthy skin. We want to better understand what these temperature differences can tell us about the condition of the wound. For this reason, in this study we study different processes in the body that may affect temperature. Areas of skin with good blood flow are often warmer because blood carries heat from inside the body. Inflammation can also increase temperature, similar to a fever. A higher temperature or red skin may also be a sign that the body is fighting bacteria. We use a thermal imaging camera to make the temperature of the skin surface visible. The camera creates images that show how temperature is distributed across the skin, similar to a photograph. Blood flow affects not only temperature, but also how well the tissue is supplied with oxygen. Oxygen is carried by red blood cells. Using two cameras, we examine blood flow and oxygen supply in the wound area and the surrounding skin. For this measurement, light is directed onto the skin. Some parts of the blood absorb part of this light. The cameras measure the reflected light. From these measurements, we can calculate how many red blood cells and how much oxygen are present in a certain area. In addition, we create a three-dimensional image (depth map) of the wound. This helps us measure the size and shape of the wound more accurately. All collected information is then analyzed together. This helps us better understand the healing and tissue damage processes in and around the wound.
You can take part in the study if: - you are receiving inpatient treatment at Medical Clinic VI of Aachen University Hospital. - you have a pressure ulcer (bedsore). - you give written consent after receiving detailed information about the study, including the pseudonymized storage and scientific analysis of your clinical data.
You cannot take part in the study if: - no written consent has been given. - you do not meet the requirements for participation (see above). - you are younger than 65 years old. - you have a medical condition or limitation that currently makes participation or informed consent impossible (for example memory or thinking problems, delirium, or palliative care). - the pressure ulcer is located in the head area and exposure of the eyes cannot be safely excluded, even when protective glasses are used. - you need to remain in isolation. - you have skin conditions or skin changes that could make the wound assessment more difficult (for example skin rash, changes in skin color, tattoos, or scars).
The primary objective is to evaluate the association between temperature parameters (temperature, oxygenation index, bacterial burden index, cellular respiration index, discoloration) and the clinical severity of pressure ulcers across the full spectrum of disease using similarity metrics.