Near-Infrared Imaging for Perfusion Assessment of Traumatic Soft Tissue and Skeletal Injuries

To date, intraoperative assessment of tissue and bone viability is predominantly subjective, depending on the clinical view of the surgeon, resulting in a variation in the thoroughness of debridement. Inadequate initial resection leads to multiple debridement interventions, leading to prolonged hospitalization or readmission with consequently high direct medical costs. Near-Infrared Fluorescence (NIRF) imaging with Indocyanine Green (ICG) could potentially be a relevant contribution to adequately treating soft tissue and skeletal injuries by creating an improved distinction between viable and non-viable tissue, based on perfusion indices. This study evaluates whether intraoperative perfusion assessment with ICG fluorescence imaging is a feasible and quantifiable technique for treating traumatic injuries.