Laser Doppler Flowmetry and Transcutaneous Oximetry in Chronic Skin Ulcers: A Comparative Evaluation

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INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVE: Laser Doppler Flowmetry (LDF) and transcutaneous oximetry (TcpO2) are established methods for investigating cutaneous perfusion. To date, no study previously performed has compared data obtained from these 2 methodologies in cases of chronic cutaneous ulcers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Laser Doppler Flowmetry and TcpO2 were performed in 25 consecutive outpatients with chronic lower limb ulcers (group A, experimental; 9 women and 16 men; mean age 67 years [range, 52-81 years]) and 25 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects (group B, control) enrolled for the study. Ulcer aetiologies included 12 peripheral arterial occlusive disease, 9 chronic venous insufficiencies, and 4 pressure ulcers. Data were analyzed with Shapiro-Wilk and Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney tests. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference (P < .05) was found between LDF values of the 2 groups. No statistically significant differences were found between the 2 groups regarding the TcpO2 measurements. CONCLUSION: The data confirmed the soundness of LDF while investigating local perfusion in patients with chronic cutaneous ulcers. The same diagnostic accuracy was not obtained by means of TcpO2.

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