Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40941764›Full record

ReviewDiagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)2025

How Can Technology Improve Burn Wound Care: A Review of Wound Imaging Technologies and Their Application in Burns-UK Experience.

Nawras Farhan, Zakariya Hassan, Mohammad Al Mahdi Ali, Zaid Alqalaf, Roeya E Rasul, Steven Jeffery

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Nawras FarhanQueen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust, Mindelsohn Way, Birmingham B15 2GW, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-4241-6958
Zakariya HassanQueen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust, Mindelsohn Way, Birmingham B15 2GW, UK.
Mohammad Al Mahdi AliQueen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust, Mindelsohn Way, Birmingham B15 2GW, UK.
Zaid AlqalafQueen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust, Mindelsohn Way, Birmingham B15 2GW, UK.
Roeya E RasulQueen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust, Mindelsohn Way, Birmingham B15 2GW, UK.
Steven JefferyQueen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust, Mindelsohn Way, Birmingham B15 2GW, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-6587-5412

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Burn wounds are complex injuries that require timely and accurate assessment to guide treatment decisions and improve healing outcomes. Traditional clinical evaluations are largely subjective, often leading to delays in intervention and increased risk of complications. Imaging technologies have emerged as valuable tools that enhance diagnostic accuracy and enable objective, real-time assessment of wound characteristics. This review aims to evaluate the range of imaging modalities currently applied in burn wound care and assess their clinical relevance, diagnostic accuracy, and cost-effectiveness. It explores how these technologies address key challenges in wound evaluation, particularly related to burn depth, perfusion status, bacterial burden, and healing potential. A comprehensive narrative review was conducted, drawing on peer-reviewed journal articles, NICE innovation briefings, and clinical trial data. The databases searched included PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Library. Imaging modalities examined include Laser Doppler Imaging (LDI), Fluorescence Imaging (FI), Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIR), Hyperspectral Imaging, Spatial Frequency Domain Imaging (SFDI), and digital wound measurement systems. The clinical application and integration of these modalities in UK clinical practice were also explored. Each modality demonstrated unique clinical benefits. LDI was effective in assessing burn depth and perfusion, improving surgical planning, and reducing unnecessary procedures. FI, particularly the MolecuLight i:X device (MolecuLight Inc., Toronto, ON, Canada), accurately identified bacterial burden and guided targeted interventions. NIR and Hyperspectral Imaging provided insights into tissue oxygenation and viability, while SFDI enabled early detection of infection and vascular compromise. Digital measurement tools offered accurate, non-contact assessment and supported telemedicine use. NICE recognized both LDI and MolecuLight as valuable tools with the potential to improve outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. Imaging technologies significantly improve the precision and efficiency of burn wound care. Their ability to offer objective, non-invasive diagnostics enhances clinical decision-making. Future research should focus on broader validation and integration into clinical guidelines to ensure widespread adoption.

Indexed as

burns woundsdevicesdiagnostic imagingLDIMolecuLight i:Xtechnology advanceswound healing

Identifiers

PMID40941764
PMCPMC12427859

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.