Practicality of thermography in evaluation of osteoarthritis of knee joint

BACKGROUND: About 80 percent of the Korean population over 55 years old show radiographic signs of osteoarthritis. Hence, osteoarthritis has become one of the most important public health problem among the old age. Despite the importance of this disease, proper methods for evaluation and diagnosis of osteoarthritis have not been developed. Authors have investigated the sensitivity and specificity of thermography in diagnosing osteoarthritis. METHODS: Twenty patients who had visited the department of family medicine, Korea University Hospital, with non-traumatic knee pain during the period from April 1 to May 30, 1999, were included in the study. Patients had gone through series of careful history taking, physical examination and laboratory evaluations for clinical evaluation of osteoarthritis of the knee joints. Furthermore, the radiographic and thermographic examination of both knee joints were assessed. RESULTS: Among the twenty patients who have been examined, 15 patients were to have shown radiographic abnormality; on the other hand, 14 patients showed thermographic abnormality. Seventeen patients showed clinical manifestations of osteoarthritis. Twelve patients, among those who had clinical osteoarthritis, were shown to have osteoarthritis in both image studies, i.e. radiographic and thermographic abnormalities. All patients who had not shown clinical osteoarthritis, were normal on both image studies. The sensitivity and specificity of thermography in diagnosing osteoarthritis were 80% and 80%, respectively (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Hot spots or asymmetric distribution in the knee joint area of osteoarthritis patients were in thermographic examination. Thermography has shown efficacy in the evaluation of osteoarthritis.

Usefulness of Thermography in Diabetic Neuropathy

Background : diabetic neuropathy is one of the serious complication of diabetes mellitus and it can cause serious foot problems. These foot problems could be preventable if early detection method of diabetic neuropathy is established. Therefore, essential diagnostic tool is needed. The changes on electrophysiologic studies(EPS) may to be necessarily correlated with clinical neuropathy. Theater has attempted to confirm the thermography as an useful tool for detecting diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Methods : Author has studied 20 patients with diabetes visiting to department of family medicine of Korea University Hospital between December 1, 1998 and June, 30, 1999. All cases were evaluated on clinical criteria. Furthermore, the EPS and thermography have been taken. The author investigated the results of thermograpy and the relation of the clinical diagnosis and EPS. Results : among 20 cases, 12(60.0%) cases have shown abnormality on EPS and 6(30.0%) cases of them was also abnormal on clinical criteria, the other 8(40.0%) cases were normal on EPS. Results of EPS were moderately related to clinical diagnosis. 10(50.0%) cases have shown abnormality on thermography and 6(30.0%) cases of them were also abnormal on clinical criteria, the other 10(50.0%) cases were normal on thermography. Results of thermography were related to clinical diagnosis. Among 12(60.0%) cases were abnormal on EPS, 9(45%) cases also have shown abnormality on thermography. Among 8(40.0%) cases were normal on EPS, 7(35.0%) cases were also normal on thermography. Results of thermography were highly related to EPS. Conclusion : Thermography is a useful diagnostic tool in diabetic peripheral neuropathy.