Thermography--its current diagnostic status in musculoskeletal medicine.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the currently perceived status of thermography in the diagnosis of musculoskeletal disorders.


METHODS
Medical and legal journals published from 1956 onwards; report of the United States Office of Health Technology Assessment and personal communication with the author of that report.


METHODS
Confined to application of thermography to musculoskeletal and neurological medicine.


METHODS
Weighted towards prospective and controlled studies.


CONCLUSIONS
Little evidence exists of any application of thermography in which it is unequivocally superior to conventional diagnostic imaging methods.
Awerbuch
M S
MS
Pain Management Unit, Memorial Medical Centre, North Adelaide, SA.
D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009209:Myofascial Pain Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D009333:Neck; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012019:Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D012585:Sciatica / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D012881:Skin Temperature / Q000502:physiology; D013817:Thermography / Q000379:methods; D014911:Whiplash Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology