title: Thermographic investigation of osseous stress pathology.
abstract: The debilitating pathology of stress fracture accounts for 10% of all athletic injuries[2], with prevalence as high as 20% in modern military basic training cohorts [3]. Increasing concerns surrounding adverse effects of radiology [5], combined with the 12.5% contribution of diagnostic imaging to Australian Medicare benefits paid in 2009-10 [6], have prompted the search for alternative/adjunct electronic decision support systems[7]. Within conducive physioanatomic milieu, thermal infrared imaging (TIRI) may feasibly be used to remotely detect and topographically map diagnostically useful signs of suprathreshold thermodynamic pathophysiology. This paper details a three month clinical pilot study into TIRI-based detection of osseous stress pathology in the lower legs of Australian Army basic trainees. A dataset of over 500 TIRI's was amassed. The apparent 'normal' thermal profile of the anterior aspect of the asymptomatic lower leg is topographically defined and validated against current thermophysiological theory [8] via cadaveric dissection.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science and Engineering, Curtin University of Technology Perth, WA 6102, AUS. masood.khan@curtin.edu.au
authors.forename: Daniel T J
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Arthur
authors.forename: Masood Mehmood
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Luke C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Barclay
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000473:pathology*; D002102:Cadaver; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004867:Equipment Design; D015775:Fractures, Stress / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology*; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008889:Military Personnel; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared / Q000379:methods; D013696:Temperature; D013816:Thermodynamics; D013817:Thermography / Q000379:methods*; D013977:Tibia / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors