RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT07524062

The Application of Infrared Thermography in the Prediction of Skin Healing in Surgery

The Application of Infrared Thermography in the Prediction of Skin Healing in Surgery THERMS: THermography for Evaluation of Recovery and Monitoring of Surgical Wounds

Sponsor

Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven

Enrollment

120 participants

Start Date

Jun 15, 2026

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Surgical wound infection Wound Healing Postoperative Complications Skin Transplantation SKIN NEOPLASMS

Summary

This study investigates whether infrared thermography, a harmless and non-invasive thermal camera technique, can help monitor how surgical wounds heal after skin surgery. The goal is to detect wound problems earlier, such as infection or delayed healing, and to support doctors in making timely clinical decisions.

Eligibility

Min Age: 18 Years

Inclusion Criteria4

Voluntary written informed consent of the participant or their legally authorized representative has been obtained prior to any screening procedures
Adult subjects (>18 years of age) at time of enrolment
Patients undergoing a surgical excision under local anesthesia
Indications of the excisions were skin lesions suspected to be malignant, skin lesions confirmed to be malignant via prior biopsy

Exclusion Criteria7

Patient has history of pre-existing diabetes type I and II
Patients with pre-existing chronic wound problems
Patients with renal dysfunction,
Patients with venous insufficiency confirmed via radiographic imaging
Patients who received radiotherapy in the affected area in the past
Patients with chronic steroid use in the past (> 3 months) or a immunosuppressant medication history
Female who is pregnant

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Interventions

DEVICEInfrared thermography

Participants will undergo non-contact infrared thermography using a handheld thermal imaging device to capture temperature patterns of the surgical wound at predefined postoperative time points. The device is used solely for diagnostic imaging and does not touch the skin or alter wound care. Thermal images are recorded under standardized conditions and analyzed to identify temperature changes that may indicate normal healing or early signs of complications such as infection, delayed healing, or graft failure. This intervention differs from standard clinical follow-up because it adds objective thermal measurements that are not part of routine postoperative assessment.