The use of the FLIR ONE Pro thermal camera for paediatric burn wound depth assessment: A pilot study

Accurate and timely depth assessment in paediatric burn wounds is essential for appropriate treatment and optimal results. The current golden standard in care is clinical assessment and the laser Doppler imager (LDI), which have limitations, respectively, in either accuracy or cost. Infrared thermography has emerged as a possible easy and cost-effective alternative for burn depth assessment in adults. We conducted a prospective cohort study to evaluate the FLIR ONE Pro camera using thermography in paediatric burns. Here, it is demonstrated that it has potential as an inexpensive and portable supportive tool in assessing burn depth in paediatric patients, particularly in settings where LDI is unavailable. In this cohort, effect size and diagnostic accuracy results were comparable to the LDI for diagnosing superficial partial thickness burns. However, measurement variability, and practical objections to the FLIR system remain. Further research with large cohorts are warranted to determine the feasibility of this technology, and to develop proper measurement timing.