Modified TIME-H: a simplified scoring system for chronic wound management

Objective: Chronic wound assessment requires a systematic approach in order to guide management and improve prognostication. Following a pilot study using the original TIME-H scoring system in chronic wound management, modifications were suggested leading to the development of the Modified TIME-H scoring system. This study investigates the feasibility and reliability of chronic wound prognostication applying the Modified TIME-H score.

Method: Patients referred to the hospital's outpatient wound clinic over a 9-month period were categorised into one of three predicted outcome categories based on their Modified TIME-H score.

Results: This study shows a higher proportion of patients in the certain healing category achieved healed wounds, with a higher rate of reduction in wound size, when compared with the other categories. The three categories defined in this study are certain healing, uncertain healing and difficult healing.

Conclusion: The Modified TIME-H score could be a useful tool for assessment, patient-centred management and prognostication of chronic wounds in clinical practice and requires further validation from other institutions.