Changes with time in skin temperature of the shoulders in healthy controls and a patient with shoulder-hand syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Abnormal skin temperature in the shoulder is caused by various diseases. A thermography is unable to capture temperature changes over time. In contrast, a Thermocron is an effective measuring device to monitor temperature changes over time.


OBJECTIVE
The purposes of this study employing a Thermocron were to measure shoulder skin temperature over time in healthy subjects and to detect shoulder skin temperature abnormalities in a patient with shoulder-hand syndrome.


METHODS
Subjects comprised 10 healthy volunteers (20 shoulders; 4 men and 6 women, mean age 54 years). For measurements, a Thermocron was attached on both shoulders. Measurements were made from 21.00 to 07.00 the following morning at 15-minute intervals.


RESULTS
Gradual difference in right and left shoulder skin temperature was observed with the timing of measurements but no significant difference was apparent, i.e. dominant side 34.9 ± 0.8°C, non-dominant side 34.9 ± 0.9°C (P = 0.28). Presentation of a case with shoulder-hand syndrome. A 54-year-old woman with the diagnosis of rotator cuff tear underwent surgical treatment of rotator cuff repair, but the pain of the operated shoulder persisted due to phase 1 shoulder-hand syndrome. In postoperative week 3, skin temperature measurement using Thermocrons demonstrated a significant decrease in temperature on the operated side (affected side 34.3 ± 0.4°C, healthy side 35.2 ± 0.3°C; P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The changing of the skin temperature during night-time was successfully recorded both in the healthy subjects and a case with shoulder-hand syndrome using a Thermocron.
Koike
Yoichi
Y
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Japanese Red Cross Sendai Hospital, Yagiyama Honcyo, Taihaku-Ku, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan. yokoike@gmail.com
Sano
Hirotaka
H
Imamura
Itaru
I
Goto
Masako
M
Ooyama
Masamizu
M
Kita
Atushi
A
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain; D012019:Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000601:surgery; D012782:Shoulder / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012881:Skin Temperature; D013817:Thermography / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors