NCT07524062

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

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 120 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

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.

Detailed description

This study evaluates whether infrared thermography, a non-invasive technique that measures skin surface temperature, can help monitor how surgical wounds heal after dermatologic procedures. Surgical wounds may develop complications such as infection, delayed healing, or graft problems, and these issues are often detected only when visible changes appear on the skin. Because temperature changes can occur earlier than visible symptoms, thermal imaging may provide an earlier signal that a wound is not healing normally. Participants in this study will have thermal images taken at several routine follow-up moments after their skin surgery. The imaging procedure is quick, painless, and does not touch the skin. By comparing temperature patterns over time, the study aims to understand whether specific thermal changes are linked to normal recovery or to early signs of wound problems. The information gained from this study may help determine if handheld thermal cameras could be used as a supportive tool in clinical practice. Earlier identification of healing problems may allow clinicians to adjust treatment sooner and improve patient outcomes, while also providing a simple, accessible way to document wound progress.

Conditions

• Wound Healing
• Surgical Wound Infection
• Postoperative Complications
• Skin Neoplasms
• Skin Transplantation

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Infrared 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.

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-04-01
• Primary completion: 2028-10-01
• Completion: 2028-10-01
• First posted: 2026-04-13
• Last updated: 2026-04-13

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Belgium