J Korean Acad Rehabil Med.  2005 Apr;29(2):171-176.

Infrared Thermal Imaging in Hemiplegic Patients of Upper Extremity by Stroke

• Lim KB
• Lee JA
• Lee HJ
• Chung WT

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the usefulness of infrared thermal imaging for define the cause of shoulder pain on hemiplegic patients. METHOD: Subjects were 91 stroke patients who admitted to rehabilitation department from January 2002 to June 2003. Retrospective study was done by review of medical records. The subjects were divided into the control group (n=42) without shoulder pain and study group (n=49) who had the shoulder pain. The study group were also divided into subluxation, adhesive capsulitis, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) type I by main cause of pain. RESULTS: In the control group, the result revealed hypothermia on the involved upper extremity compared with the opposite intact side (p <0.05). In the study group, it revealed hyperthermia on the hand and forearm who diagnosed with CRPS type I. CONCLUSION: Distal infrared thermal imaging is considered to be useful diagnostic tool of CRPS type I in hemiplegic patient with shoulder pain.

Keyword

Shoulder pain; Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) type I; Infrared thermal imaging

MeSH Terms

Bursitis
Fever
Forearm
Hand
Humans
Hypothermia
Medical Records
Rehabilitation
Retrospective Studies
Shoulder Pain
Stroke*
Upper Extremity*