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Doctors Hooshmand, Hashmi and Eric M. Phillips have co-authored the following article: Infrared Thermal Imaging As A Tool In Pain Management - An 11 Year Study. Part II: Clinical Applications.
This original article is part two of an 11 year study of Infrared Thermal Imaging As A Tool In Pain Management.
This is a review of our 11-year experience with the application of Infrared thermal imaging (ITI) in 3,265 patients suffering from chronic pain. This study focuses on the application of ITI as a diagnostic and therapeutic guide.
Below is an abstract from the article Infrared Thermal Imaging As A Tool In Pain Management - An 11 Year Study. Part II: Clinical Applications.
Please click on the link below to view the full text of this article in PDF-format.
Thermography Article Part II
Infrared Thermal Imaging As A Tool In Pain Management –
An 11 Year Study, Part II: Clinical Applications
Hooshang Hooshmand, Masood Hashmi, Eric M. Phillips
Neurological Associates Pain Management Center, Vero Beach, Florida, USA
Summary
ITI is a neurophysiological tool providing diagnostic and therapeutic information in patients suffering from neuropathic pain with neurovascular involvement. This information cannot be obtained from anatomical tests (e.g., MRI or CT).
Bales Scientific Thermal Processor (Bales Scientific, Walnut Creek, CA) (762 patients) and Agema Cameras (Flir)(2,503 patients) were used for this study of 3,265 successive patients. A review of our experience with Infrared thermal imaging (ITI) and its role in pain management was conducted, and compared with the recent medical literature. The study was limited to the role of ITI in the management of complex chronic pain syndrome.
ITI is helpful in proper localization of hyperthermic foci due to iatrogenic permanent damage to thermosensory nerves, such as seen after repetitive sympathetic ganglion blocks; or due to sympathectomy or prolotherapy. As the result, the physician stays out of harms way by not causing further permanent damage. In addition, ITI identifies the spread of CRPS, pointing to the need for treatment of such spread. It helps differentiate migraine from neuropathic occipital neuralgia - two diseases requiring to contrasting treatments.
ITI has not been proven useful in evaluation of cervical and lumbar radiculopathies, stroke, and transient ischemic attacks. ITI can differentiate cervicogenic headaches from migraine - each requiring opposite forms of treatment. ITI is a useful prognosticator for diabetic foot pain, sparing some patients from amputation. ITI can spare patients from unnecessary carpal tunnel, spinal disc, and TMJ surgeries by identifying the original source of neuropathic pain. If ITI shows diffuse hyperthermia in the extremity already treated with repeated sympathetic ganglion blocks (virtual sympathectomy), such patients should be spared from undergoing further ganglion blocks. The hypothermic extremity after sympathectomy proves the futility of this and other ablative treatments such as chemical sympathectomy, or neurolytic blocks.
Key Words - CRPS, Headache, Sympathectomy ,Thermography.
H.Hooshmand, M.Hashmi, E.M. Phillips. Infrared Thermal Imaging As A Tool In Pain Management - An 11 Year Study. Part II: Clinical Applications. Thermology international 11 / 3 (2001).
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