J Korean Acad Rehabil Med.  2006 Apr;30(2):122-127.

The Comparative Analysis between Digital Infrared Thermography Imaging and Three-phase Bone Scintigraphy in the Post-hemiplegic Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

• Lee CH
• Hyun JK
• Lee SJ
• Jeon JY

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the benefit of digital infrared thermography imaging (DITI) and three-phase bone scintigraphy (TPBS) for detecting the post-hemiplegic complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). METHOD: DITI and TPBS were done in 26 patients with post-hemiplegic CRPS clinically and 14 hemiplegic patients without CRPS as controls. Positive findings were interpreted when the affected hands were 1.0degrees C higher than those of unaffected hands in DITI system and pathological uptake in the regions of interest (hands without fingers-carpal bones, metacarpal bones and metacarpopharyngeal joints) in delayed phase of the TPBS.
RESULTS
The sensitivities of DITI and TPBS to detect CRPS were the same to each other as 46.2%, and specificities were 85.7% and 100% respectively. Nineteen of 26 patients (sensitivity=73.1%) were interpreted as abnormal when at least one test showed a positive finding. As a result, an increased diagnostic strength was achieved.
CONCLUSION
These findings suggest that the combination of TPBS and DITI can improve the diagnostic strength of post- hemiplegic CRPS.

Keyword

Three-phase bone scintigraphy; Digital infrared thermography imaging; Complex regional pain syndrome; Hemiplegia

MeSH Terms

Hand
Hemiplegia
Humans
Metacarpal Bones
Radionuclide Imaging*
Thermography*