Thermographic evaluation of chronic lumbar disc lesions : correlations with clinical picture, EMG myelogram and CT scan

Abstract EN

The aim of this work was to evaluate thermography in chronic disc lesion and its correlations with clinical picture, EMG, myelogram and CT scan.

The work included 80 comecutive thermographic examination for complaints of lumbar pain due to chronic disc lesion with root compression.

The thermographic findings were also compared with clinical picture, EMG, myelogram and CT scan .

A positive neurological examination / thermogram correlation was present in 74 % .

Correlation between EMG and thermogram was 73 %.

Myelographic and thermographic correlation iray 52 %, CT seem and thermogram was 56 %.

These results demonstrate respectable correlations between thermorgraphy and both neurological examination and EMG studies .

Somewhat less correlation was found between thermography and diagnostic procedures of CT scanning and myelography .

Liquid crystal contact thermography shows some promise as an adjunctive diagnostic tool in the assessment of chronic lumbar disc lesion with radicular symptoms, esspecially where further surgety is contemplated and the more structural tests of CT scanning and myelography may be falsely positive as a result of previous back surgery.