Evaluation of the Thermal Profile of the Medial Tibia Shaft in Healthy Volunteers

Healthy individuals show body thermal symmetry of the right-left body segments in the distribution of skin temperature. Differences in temperatures above 0.3°C are suggestive of abnormality and denote clinical medical investigation. The aim of this study was to evaluate temperature in the medial tibial diaphysis in eight healthy adult volunteers of both genders, three males and five females, aged 20 to 35 years. The objective is to compose a reference database that can be used for orthopedic and surgical treatments assessment. Thermal images were acquired in the anteroposterior views according to the protocol for the acquisition of thermal images in the lower limbs and in the profile view according to the radiological technical protocols of the lower limbs. The results of the thermal profile analysis on the mean of the total temperature of the images of the direct lower limb in diaphysis of the medial tibia showed in the supine positions in the lateral view and in the orthostatic position in the anteroposterior view, temperature difference of 0.22°C. The analysis of the thermal profile of the left lower limb in orthostatic position compared with supine showed a small thermal difference of 0.19°C. Thus it can be concluded the feasibility of acquiring thermal images following the radiological positioning of the lower limb profile, as it doesn't present thermal variability.