Postoperative Evaluation of Lumbar Disc Herniation Using Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging

ABSTRACT

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.