| Usefulness of Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging in Evaluating the Efficacy of Epidural Block among the Patients with Lumbar Radiculopathy. |
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Oh, Jun Ho , Shin, Sung Hun , Lee, Sang Chul , Kim, Yong Kyun |
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Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kwandong University College of Medicine, Korea. ykkim@kwandong.ac.kr |
| 요추신경근병증의 경막외 차단술 효과판정에 적외선체열촬영의 유용성 |
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오준호, 신성헌, 이상철, 김용균 |
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관동대학교 의과대학 재활의학교실 |
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| Abstract |
Objective
To assess the clinical value of digital infrared thermal imaging (DITI) as an indicator for successful lumbar epidural block in patients with lumbar radiculopathy.
Method
Ten patients having lumbar radiculopathy with low back pain and unilateral radicular leg pain participated in this study. The DITI was taken before and 20 minutes after lumbar epidural block. Visual analog scale (VAS) and straight leg raising (SLR) test were done before taking DITI. Temperatures were measured over 39 sectors of both lower extremities. Temperature differences of the affected and the sound side were compared between before and after lumbar epidural block. Correlation between the temperature differences and two variables, the VAS and SLR were assessed.
Results
There were the relative increase of temperature in DITI after lumbar epidural block, especially in posterior part of sector 7, posterior upper lateral thigh, sector 8, posterior upper middle thigh, sector 14, medial popliteal area, sector 15, posterior upper lateral calf, and sector 18, posterior middle medial calf. In posterior 15th sectors, the relative increase of temperature had a positive correlation with improvement of VAS score, and in 18th sector, it is positively correlated with improvement of SLR.
Conclusion
It seems that the relative increase of temperature differences after lumbar epidural block is positively correlated with improvement of VAS and SLR in specific sectors, posterior 15th and 18th each. DITI may be useful as an objective indicator of successful lumbar epidural block. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2008; 32: 89-94) |
| Key Words:
Thermography, Epidural injection, Radiculopathy |
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