Measurement of optical properties to quantify healing of chronic diabetic wounds.

Measurement of scattering and absorption characteristics of tissue by near infrared spectroscopy may provide a clinically applicable, quantitative method of assessing healing of diabetic wounds. Twenty SICH-1 hairless rats were divided into a control group and a streptozotocin-induced diabetic group. Full-thickness wounds were made on the dorsal surface of each animal. Wounds were examined using a near infrared device with three wavelengths of incident light. Amplitude and phase of scattered light were obtained at four different source detector distances at each wavelength. The probe was positioned at six different locations. Tissue absorption and scattering coefficients were calculated from amplitude and phase data. Wound dimensions were calculated by cross and parallel polarization. Thirty-eight wounds were evaluated during the experiment. Wound size decreased at twice the rate in the control animals, whereas the average absorption coefficient was higher by a factor of two while the average value of the reduced scattering coefficient was 30% higher in the diabetic wounds. During healing, both scattering and absorption coefficients increased faster in the diabetics. Higher absorption in diabetic rats suggests impaired blood flow. Scattering may reflect tissue disorganization observed in delayed wound healing. We conclude that near infrared spectroscopy may differentiate between healing diabetic and nondiabetic wounds.