Creation of a body surface area chart for burn size estimation in bushfire affected koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) using three-dimensional computed tomographic segmentation.

Abstract

Koalas are a native Australian species vulnerable to bushfire events, with 40,000 koalas estimated to have perished during the 2019-2020 summer bushfire event on Kangaroo Island. Determining the distribution and severity of burns is an important component in the treatment of burns in both human and veterinary patients. This project outlines the creation of a clinical chart to evaluate the surface area, distribution and severity of burns in koalas. This was achieved by three-dimensional computed tomographic segmentation to evaluate the surface areas of the whole koala and its external anatomy. The external anatomy was segmented into regions based on vulnerability to thermal injury. Segmentation and proportional surface area data are combined with an illustrated chart to create a chart-based triage tool. This clinical tool can be used to evaluate and document burn-affected surface area, distribution and severity to quantitatively inform prognosis and decision-making when triaging koalas during an Australian bushfire.