Evaluation of pH measurement as a method of wound assessment

Abstract

Wound pH measurements can be performed efficiently and are non-invasive, causing no discomfort to the patient. As the wounds healed, the pH reduced. This change in pH can help predict the likelihood of wound healing.

The quest for tissue repair's holy grail: The promise of wound diagnostics or just another fishing expedition?

“…Their review supports early determination of wound infection status by monitoring infection related wound fluid parameters [15]. Another study of acute and diabetic foot ulcers classified wounds as either unhealthy, granulating, or healing [16]. They observed that improving and healing wounds were associated with a lower pH (7.5-8).…”

“…They are also inactive in low pH (pH4) environments. These studies, among others suggest that lowering the pH of wound fluid might improve healing rates in non-healing wounds [16][17][18]. Modulating the pH level may also be one rapid, accurate, and sensitive method of controlling the infectious bioburden of a chronic wound [15].…”

The Effect of pH on the Extracellular Matrix and Biofilms

“…Wounds presented with a pH of 8.5 or more, but as the wound began to heal pH values reduced to 8 and below. 31 Other studies have demonstrated a difference in pH of wounds classed as being in different stages of healing. Stage-3 ulcers had a pH of 7.6 compared with stage-1 ulcers with a more acidic and similar pH to intact skin (pH 5.4-5.6).…”

Evaluation of effect of topical application of 3% citric acid on wound healing

“…[4] Many chemicals like acetic acid, hydrocolloids, occlusive carbon dioxide, honey and citric acid have been used for application to wounds as pH modifying agents. [5,6,7,8] Citric acid has been in use for a very long time, first in dental care and then subsequently in surgical dressings. [9,10] Use of citric acid is primarily based on pH modulation.…”