F- CLINICAL ASPECTS OF SPINAL CORD INJURIES
505
EVALUATION OF TREATMENTS
The progress of healing can be assessed by photographs and by regular tracing of the
sore with the two-film method (Guttmann, 1945). This is done by means of a sterile,
decoated X-ray film or other transparent plastic sheath, which is placed over the sore
and a second film which serves as a permanent record is placed on top. The outline of the
sore is then traced on the top film with the date of the tracing. Tracings on the same film
are repeated at regular intervals, every 4 or 6 days, and thus the speed and mode of
healing can be determined by the change of size and shape of the sore. After complete
healing the traced areas according to the dates are measured by means of a planimeter, a
technique recommended by Carrel
et al.
(1918) for assessing the rate of healing of war
wounds. Fig. 2i2b demonstrates the tracing and chart of the rate of healing of the
gigantic sacral sore shown in Fig. 212c of a traumatic paraplegic. Such research would be
if
1*8
1\
FlG. 2I2C.
