Leg Volume Measurements with a Modified Optoelectronic Measurement System

Abstract

Objective:

To evaluate the reproducibility of a modified optoelectronic volume measurement system (the volometer).

Design:

In the first part of the study healthy volunteers and one investigator were used to evaluate the intraobserver reproducibility; in the second part one healthy volunteer and different investigators were used to evaluate the interobserver reproducibility.

Setting:

Department of Dermatology, Academisch Ziekenhuis Maastrict, The Netherlands.

Patients:

Twenty healthy volunteers for the first part of the study; eight doctors and one healthy volunteer for the second part.

Main outcome measures:

Optoelectronic volume measurements on one leg over a standard distance of 40 cm and over 20 cm with the use of a laser pointer as calibration. A total of eight measurements were performed on each volunteer. The same procedure was performed by different investigators on one volunteer.

Results:

The modified optoelectronic measurement system with laser pointer calibration showed an improvement of the reproducibility of 27% in the intraobserver study. An improvement of 11% was found in the interobserver study.

Conclusions:

The modified optoelectronic volume measurement system (the volometer) provides a better reproducibility than the standard system. The instrument can be used for easy and rapid volume measurements in phlebological practice.