Practical Applicability of Noninvasive, Optical Outcome Measures for Postoperative Wound Assessment in Dermatologic Surgery

BACKGROUND: Various bedside imaging devices, such as reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM), optical coherence tomography (OCT), line-field confocal optical coherence tomography (LC-OCT), and high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) have been applied to quantify and objectively measure functional wound closure, enable noninvasive wound surveillance, and predict defective scar formation early on. Despite their efficacy, a lack of consolidated data on their practical application limits clinical understanding of these emerging technologies. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate various noninvasive optical imaging devices for postoperative wound assessment, specifically comparing the advantages, limitations, and practical applicability of each technique in dermatologic surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature review identified 32 articles discussing the utility of RCM, OCT, LC-OCT, and HFUS for wound and scar assessment. RESULTS: Each of the discussed measures are advantageous to postoperative examination of skin changes, offering insightful information that supports gross clinical inspection and histopathology. Significant trade-offs can be observed between depth penetration and image resolution among each device. CONCLUSION: Application of bedside imaging to evaluate wounds can optimize cosmetic outcomes, predict early scar formation, and decrease recovery duration.