Use of a 3‐D imaging technique for non‐invasive monitoring of the depth of experimentally induced wounds

Background/purpose: Experimental studies of wound healing lack methods for standardized wounding and in situ depth assessment. Consequently, in this pilot study, an Erbium (Er):YAG laser has been used for wound induction with a non-invasive 3-D imaging technique as an alternative to histology. Methods: Erbium:YAG ablation of human skin ex vivo was performed with total fluences of 10, 50 and 200 J/cm2, removing the stratum corneum, epidermis/papillary dermis and deeper dermis, respectively. Wound depth was measured with the 3-D method and histologically. Results: Wound depth was proportional to fluence for both techniques : 3-D, 17.7±1.7, 43.9±16 and 245.2±61 μm; histology, 14.6±1.7, 50.6±11.6 and 238±102 μm, respectively. Conclusions: The 3-D technique compares well with and is an improvement on histological measurement, providing true wound depth measurement, avoiding shape changes inherent with histology. Furthermore, the Er:YAG laser is a highly appropriate means of wound induction due to its rapidity and precision.