Using ulcer surface area and volume to document wound size.

Abstract

The evaluation of ulcer size is normally limited to measuring length, width, and depth, and comparing those figures to previously obtained values. These comparisons are grossly inaccurate, and a more representative technique can be used by treating the ulceration as a three-dimensional object. The author proposes several mathematical formulae that are easily computed on a hand-held calculator. The formulae use the measurements of length, width, and depth, and translate those dimensions into surface area and volume.