Evaluation of Thermography in the Diagnosis of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Comparative Study between Patient and Control Groups.
- Author:
Yong Pyo HONG
1
;
Kyeong Sik RYU
;
Byung Moon CHO
;
Sae Moon OH
;
Se Hyuck PARK
Author Information
1. Department of Neurosurgery, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. sehyuck@hallym.or.kr
- Publication Type:Comparative Study ; Original Article
- Keywords:
Carpal tunnel syndrome;
Thermography;
Diagnosis
- MeSH:
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome*;
Diagnosis*;
Fingers;
Forearm;
Hand;
Humans;
Thermography*;
Volunteers
- From:Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
2006;39(6):423-426
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: There is still debate about the diagnostic efficacy of digital infrared thermographic imaging(DITI), nevertheless, it has been used for the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome(CTS). We performed comparative study between patient and control groups to investigate the diagnostic value of DITI in CTS. METHODS: We studied 27 patients with electrodiagnostically-proven CTS and 18 symptom-free volunteers as a control. We measured thermal difference on DITI in the corresponding regions of the hands and forearms. We statistically analyzed the thermal data using a t-test. RESULTS: The average thermal difference in the diagnosed patient group ranged from 0.0303 degrees C to 0.2856 degrees C, while that in control group ranged from 0.0611 degrees C to 0.2878 degrees C. In the CTS patient group, thermal difference between each 2nd finger was higher than that of other regions. However, there was no statistical significance between patient and control groups. CONCLUSION: We found that the diagnostic value of DITI in CTS was not sufficient. There should be a reconsideration of the usefulness of DITI in CTS.
