title: Infrared thermal imaging in the diagnosis of musculoskeletal injuries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Musculoskeletal injuries occur frequently. Diagnostic tests using ionizing radiation can lead to problems for patients, and infrared thermal imaging could be useful when diagnosing these injuries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A systematic review was performed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of infrared thermal imaging in patients with musculoskeletal injuries. A meta-analysis of three studies evaluating stress fractures was performed and found a lack of support for the usefulness of infrared thermal imaging in musculoskeletal injuries diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Physical Therapy, University of Valencia, C. Gasco Oliag 5, Valencia E-46010, Spain.
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sanchis-Sánchez
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vergara-Hernández
authors.forename: Rosa M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Cibrián
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Salvador
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sanchis
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Codoñer-Franch
mesh_terms: D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007259:Infrared Rays; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000293:injuries*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013817:Thermography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: diagnostic imaging; meta-analysis; musculoskeletal injuries; sensitivity and specificity; stress fractures; systematic review; thermography