Postoperative Evaluation of Lumbar Disc Herniation Using Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging

Digital infrared thermographic imaging system is noninvasive, easy to reading, objective and physiologic instrument by measuring and imaging infrared energy emitted from skin surface. The authors present the result of digital infrared thermographic images of 83 patients of operated lumbar disc herniation from October, 1990 to March, 1991. 46 patients have received discectomy and the other 37 patients have received chemonucleolysis. We have done digital infrared thermographic imaging preoperatively and postoperatively. In preoperative digital infrared thermographic imaging, diagnostic sensitivity is about 76%, In postoperative digital infrared thermographic imaging, clinical results were well correlated in discectomy group. But in chemonucleolysis group, clinical results were not correlated with digital infrared thermographic images.

Computed Tomographic Findings of Good Prognosis in Hypertensive Putaminal Hemorrhage

Computed tomographic findings were analyzed in 46 patients with hypertensive putaminal hemorrhage accompainied by hemiparesis. It has been important prognostic index whether to involve or not to involve posterior limb of internal capsule. To study the reason for this, the relationship between the extent of a hematoma and the level ar which the pyramidal tract was destroyed was investigated. From the consideration of the process of destruction of the pyramidal tract by a hematoma, it seemed that computed tomographic findings at the level of the body of the lateral ventricle rather than at the prognosis of hemiparesis.