Abstract
The purpose of this study is to explore the usefulness of thermography in lumber disc disorders. Preliminary studies indicate that thermography is an excellent procedure for demonstrating the presence and location of root compression. 91 patients with symptoms and signs suggesting root compression received thermography and followed by myelography.
Thermographic findings were compared to myelographic findings and 68 patients were available for this study. Imvolvement of L4 root is characterized by the cold area of antero-lateral thigh, L5 root compression is associated with the cold area of the knee and anterior leg, and S1 root compression is indicated by the cold area of anterior leg, calf and foot. These temperature changes of the lower extremity seem to correspond to myotomes. Thermography was found to be accurate in predicting disc-herniation in 85% of this series. Peripheral manifestations of cold area is considered to be related with the compression of sympathetic nerves, particularly vasomotor systems.
Thermography which is the pictorial representation of temperature variations can serve to screen patients suffering from root compression syndrome, especially at the L4, L5, and S1 levels.
