疤痕是受傷後，經由身體組織修復後所導致的結果。燒燙傷後所留下的疤痕，會造成燒燙傷患者在人際交往中心理的障礙，疤痕的增生現象與攣縮作用，也會對患者身體各部機能與關節活動能力造成限制與影響。隨著生活品質的要求日益重視，對疤痕的處置結果由過去著重於表面之治療，已逐漸提昇至疤痕總量的減少與功能性的恢復，因此疤痕的評估與分析已顯得日益重要。然而目前採用的評估方式大多屬於主觀上的判斷，例如：Vancouver General Hospital scar index (VGH)，針對疤痕的顏色(color)、色素(pigmentation) 、血管分佈情形(vascularity)、柔軟度(pliability)與厚度(depth)等疤痕外表方面進行評估；但對於皮膚真皮層內疤痕的量，則無法評估。因此，一個安全、簡單、方便且可偵測整體疤痕數量的工具及待研究發展。

　　由於超音波是一個安全、低價格又多功能的儀器，使用超音波來檢查人體，並不會帶給人體任何傷害，而且隨著儀器的發明，解析度也不遜於其他的測量方法。在坊間雖然有立體超音波儀器的開發，然其偵測的層面，大多針對身體深部構造的剖析，同時價格也很昂貴，臨床上幾乎很少運用在疤痕的偵測上，故在本研究中，藉由超音波影像建立一套疤痕量化評估系統，利用電腦影像處理方法自動搜尋疤痕影像的邊界，並計算出疤痕內部的特性參數，如疤痕的深度、面積及體積等參數。提供一個真實而且客觀的量測工具，作為臨床醫師在疤痕治療評估過程中的參考。

　　研究中我們利用自行研發的疤痕量化評估系統，實際對一個嚴重燒燙傷，導致肥厚性疤痕產生的病患，評估他手臂的疤痕參數。為了驗證系統的重建方法，我們則利用假體的體積重建，來模擬疤痕的體積重建，以驗證重建方法的準確性。驗證結果精確率可達90 % 以上。

　Tissue injury and the ensuing healing process cause scar formation. In addition to physical disability, the subsequent disfigurements from burns often bring negative psychological impacts on the survivors. Scar hypertrophy and contracture limited joints motion and body functions. With the current technologies available, therapies no longer focus sorely on the process of wound healing, but also emphasize on the cosmetic and functional outcomes. Therefore, proper evaluation and assessment of the steps to nil scar status is expected. However, the frequently employed tools remained subjective. For example, Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) scar index uses color, pigmentation, vascularity, pliability, and depth of the scar as dependent variables. These parameters of VGH scar index just estimate the superficial surface, but can not evaluate the deeper contain within dermis.

　Ultrasound is a safe, inexpensive, and multifunctional probe. Its resolution is not inferior to other measurement methods. Although 3D ultrasound is available clinically. It’s not popular to use in scar estimation. The intra-organs or structure deep fascia usually are the targets. Only to it’s high penetration device and high cost. In this study, we proposed a new scar assessment system using ultrasound. By utilizing reconstruction methods to search the border of the scar, many parameters of the scar become evident: depth, area and volume. This objective measurement tool permits the clinician to better understand the effects of treatments and plan further therapies.

　In the present study, we used our quantitative assessment system on the arm of a seriously burned patient. In order to verify the systematic reconstruction method reliably, we constructed a model to imitate the scar. The final results showed that the accuracy rate could reach above 90%. That is a paramount issue to assess the total amount of scar. Therefore, another one objective facility is to assess these problems.

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