The use of thermographic examination to evaluate outcome in the conservative and surgical treatment of lateral scoliosis

: Background. Diagnosis and evaluation of treatment outcome in scoliosis require the implementation of simple, noninvasive and accurate diagnostic methods. Thermovision, depending on remote skin surface temperature measurement, has found application in various medical disciplines. The goal of of our study was to evaluate the possibility of thermographic evaluation in assessing outcome for patients with scoliosis treated conservatively and operatively. Material and methods. The evaluated group consisted of 392 patients 6-17 years of age (mean 14.01 years), including 164 healthy children without scoliosis and 228 children with scoliosis (193 treated conservatively and 35 surgically). In group treated conservatively, we formed an additional subgroup of 31 patients treated with symmetrical and asymmetrical exercises. In the control group without scoliosis we performed orthopedic and thermographic examination in order to establish thermographic norms for the back. In the scoliosis group we performed several orthopedic, thermographic and radiographic examinations. Thermographic examination was performed with an AGEMA 470 camera in standardized microclimatic conditions, and the results were analyzed in reference to the mechanical and anatomical axis of the spine. Results. The thermographic examination of healthy children provide normal thermographic patterns of the back. Before exercise the difference in temperatures ranged from 0.4 degrees C to 1.6 degrees C (mean 0.7 degrees C). The average temperature difference between sides after asymmetric exercises was 0.1 degrees C; after symmetric exercises, 0.3 degrees C. In the group of patients treated operatively the average temperature difference was 0.88 degrees C, whereas the average temperature difference in 6 cases with postoperative complications was 2.16 degrees C. Conclusions. Thermographic examination is a simple, noninvasive and useful method for monitoring and assessing outcomes, in both conservative and operative treatment of scoliosis. A special area of application of this method is the early diagnosis of postoperative complications.