['Current trends for the treatment of deep partial thickness and full-thickness burns include early excision and skin grafting. In this study we retrospectively evaluated the ability of Laser Doppler Flowmetry (LDF), taken within 24h of the burn to predict: (1) burn wound depth and (2) wounds which would heal in less than 21 days.', 'The Laser Doppler Flowmeter (O2C, LEA Medizintechnik, Germany) was employed to non-invasively measure the cutaneous microcirculation of 173 selected areas on 28 patients who suffered burns.', 'A distinct association between initial flow (<24h after burn injury) and the clinical assessment of depth of burn wounds was observed. Wounds demonstrating an initial blood flow of >100 AU were, in 93.1% of cases, correctly (positively) predicted for spontaneous healing within 21 days. A blood flow of <100 AU (negatively) predicted in 88.2%, those wounds which would not go on to heal within 21 days. Sequential measurement analysis (<24h, 3 days after injury and 6 days after injury) revealed no significant decrease in skin perfusion velocity or flow rate.'] Do cutaneous microcirculatory assessment of the burn wound is associated with depth of injury and predicts healing time?