AUTHOR=Kim Yoo Hwan , Paik Seung-Ho , Kim Youngmin , Yoon Jaechul , Cho Yong Suk , Kym Dohern , Hur Jun , Chun Wook , Kim Beop-Min , Kim Byung-Jo 

TITLE=Clinical application of functional near-infrared spectroscopy for burn assessment

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bioengineering-and-biotechnology/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2023.1127563

DOI=10.3389/fbioe.2023.1127563

ISSN=2296-4185

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Significance:</bold> Early assessment of local tissue oxygen saturation is essential for clinicians to determine the burn wound severity.</p><p><bold>Background:</bold> We assessed the burn extent and depth in the skin of the extremities using a custom-built 36-channel functional near-infrared spectroscopy system in patients with burns.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> A total of nine patients with burns were analyzed in this study. All second-degree burns were categorized as superficial, intermediate, and deep burns; non-burned skin on the burned side; and healthy skin on the contralateral non-burned side. Hemodynamic tissue signals from functional near-infrared spectroscopy attached to the burn site were measured during fNIRS using a blood pressure cuff. A nerve conduction study was conducted to check for nerve damage.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> All second-degree burns were categorized into superficial, intermediate, and deep burns; non-burned skin on the burned side and healthy skin on the contralateral non-burned side showed a significant difference distinguishable using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Hemodynamic measurements using functional near-infrared spectroscopy were more consistent with the diagnosis of burns 1 week later than that of the degree of burns diagnosed visually at the time of admission.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> Functional near-infrared spectroscopy may help with the early judgment of burn extent and depth by reflecting differences in the oxygen saturation levels in the skin.</p>