Changes in Body Temperature in Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury by Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging

Ann Rehabil Med, 2015 · DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5535/arm.2015.39.5.696 · Published: October 1, 2015

Spinal Cord Injury Medical Imaging Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

This study investigates how body temperature regulation is affected in people with incomplete spinal cord injuries (SCI). It compares core and skin temperatures of individuals with upper (T6 or above) and lower (T7 or below) SCIs to healthy individuals. Digital infrared thermographic imaging (DITI) was used to measure body surface temperature. The study aimed to understand thermoregulatory dysfunction, which is less pronounced in incomplete SCI compared to complete SCI. The findings suggest that those with upper SCIs have worse body surface temperature regulation compared to those with lower SCIs and healthy individuals, indicating thermal dysregulation in incomplete SCI.

Study Duration

1 Year

Participants

56 SCI patients and 20 healthy persons

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Patients with upper SCIs had significantly lower skin temperatures at the lower abdomen, anterior thigh, and anterior tibia compared to healthy individuals and patients with lower SCIs.
2
No significant temperature differences were observed between healthy individuals and patients with lower SCIs.
3
Cord injury severity affected body surface temperature regulation, with more severe injuries (AIS B and C) showing lower temperatures compared to less severe injuries (AIS D).

Research Summary

This study examined core and body surface temperatures in patients with incomplete SCI to assess thermoregulatory dysfunction. The results indicated that patients with upper SCIs (T6 or above) had lower body surface temperatures compared to those with lower SCIs (T7 or below) and healthy controls, suggesting impaired thermoregulation. The severity of the spinal cord injury also influenced body surface temperature, with more severe injuries associated with lower temperatures.

Practical Implications

Diagnostic Tool

DITI can be used to assess thermoregulatory dysfunction in patients with incomplete SCI.

Targeted Interventions

Patients with upper SCIs may require more aggressive interventions to manage thermal dysregulation.

Severity Assessment

Body surface temperature can serve as an indicator of SCI severity and its impact on thermoregulation.

Study Limitations

1
The patient group of T6 or above were all cervical injury patients because thoracic injury patients were not recruited.
2
Body surface temperature was measured only at the lower limbs and lower abdomen, not at the posterior surfaces of the lower limbs.
3
No comparative analysis was conducted based on the presence of central pain because most patients complained of central pain.

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