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Table 7 Comparison of viscoelasticity devices in terms of parameter measured, reliability, correlation with clinical score and cost

From: A systematic review of objective burn scar measurements

Device

Company

Parameter

Intra-rater Reliability

Inter-rater reliability

Correlation with clinical score

Cost

Portability

References

Cutometer

Courage + Khazaka

Viscoelastic parameters

Ranges from unacceptable to good (0.12–0.76)*; poor in severe firm scars

Ranges from unacceptable to good (0.11–0.93)*, poor in severe firm scars

Low to moderate, but significant (Spearman’s r = −0.29 to −0.53). Rennekampf et al. could not find any significant correlation between objective viscoelastic measurements and the subjective pliability assessment of the VSS.

£5000–£10,000 (with hub)

Yes

Nedelec et al. 2008 [30, 106], Draaijers et al. 2004 [147], Rennekampf et al. 2006 [142].

Dermalab Elasticity probe

Cortex

Viscoelastic parameters

ICC = 0.90–0.93; limited ability to measure rigid scars

ICC = 0.86–0.93; limited ability to measure rigid scars

No data

£5000–£10,000 (with hub)

Yes

Gankande et al. 2014 [6].

Tonometer

Flinders Medical Centre Biomedical Engineering

Viscoelastic parameters

ICC = 0.90–0.94

ICC = 0.948

Negative correlation between VSS pliability scores and tonometer readings: −0.457 and −0.442 respectively for 3 and 6 second readings.

No longer commercially available

Yes

Corica et al. 2006 [164], Lye et al. 2006 [158].

Durometer

Rex Gauge company

Viscoelastic parameters

No data

No data for scars but ICC = 0.82–0.92 for sclerodermal skin

Good correlation with modified Rodnan skin score (0.70) for sclerodermal skin

<£1000

Yes

Merkel et al. 2008 [160].

Dermal Torque meter

Dias-tron

Viscoelastic parameters

No data

No data

No data

N/a

Yes

Boyce et al. 2000 [165].

Adheremeter

Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri

Viscoelastic parameters

Good (0.96)

Good (0.87–0.99)

Moderate correlation with VSS and Pliability subscale of VSS (rs = −0.58 to −0.66)

Free

Yes

Ferriero et al. 2010 [169].

Reviscometer

Courage + Khazaka

Resonance running time

Good (>0.86)

No data

No data

£10,000–15,000 (with hub)

Yes

Verhaegen et al. 2010 [168].

Vesmeter

Wave Cyber Co. Ltd.

No data

No data

No data

No data

N/a

Yes

Niyaz et al. 2012 [246].

Shear Velocity Device

N/a

Shear wave propagation velocity

No data for ICC. (CV for scars is ±4.8 %)

No data

No data

Not commercially available

Yes

McHugh et al. 1997 [166].

  1. *Low ICC values for Cutometer may also be attributed to the difficulty in relocating device to same measurement spot and the high sensitivity of the device [30]
  2. ICC = intra-class correlation coefficients; CV = coefficient of variation; VSS = Vancouver Scar Scale