Reliability of scar assessments performed with an integrated skin testing device – The DermaLab Combo®

BackgroundThe DermaLab Combo® is a device with potential to make objective measurements of key scar components – pigmentation, vascularity, pliability and thickness. This study assessed the inter-rater and test–retest reliability of these measurements.MethodThree raters performed scar assessments on thirty patients with burn scars using the DermaLab Combo®. Measurements of pigmentation, vascularity, pliability and thickness were made and intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) were derived for inter-rater and test–retest reliability.ResultsInter-rater reliability was found to be “excellent” in the ‘best’ and ‘worst’ areas of the index scar and normal skin for pigmentation (ICC: 0.94–0.98) and thickness (ICC: 0.86–0.96). Test–retest reliability was also “excellent” for pigmentation (ICC: 0.87–0.89) and thickness (ICC: 0.92–0.97) in all areas. Vascularity showed “good” to “excellent” inter-rater reliability (ICC: 0.66–0.84) in all areas however test–retest reliability was “low” (ICC: 0.29–0.42). Test–retest reliability was “excellent” for pliability (ICC: 0.76–0.91). Technical limitations were encountered making measurements in some scars for thickness, and in particular, pliability.ConclusionThe DermaLab Combo® measured pigmentation, thickness and pliability with “excellent” reliability. If future studies provide protocols to improve test–retest reliability of vascularity measurements and obtain pliability measurements more successfully, the DermaLab Combo® will be valuable device for scar assessment.