title: Thermographic patterns of the upper and lower limbs: baseline data.
abstract: Objectives. To collect normative baseline data and identify any significant differences between hand and foot thermographic distribution patterns in a healthy adult population. Design. A single-centre, randomized, prospective study. Methods. Thermographic data was acquired using a FLIR camera for the data acquisition of both plantar and dorsal aspects of the feet, volar aspects of the hands, and anterior aspects of the lower limbs under controlled climate conditions. Results. There is general symmetry in skin temperature between the same regions in contralateral limbs, in terms of both magnitude and pattern. There was also minimal intersubject temperature variation with a consistent temperature pattern in toes and fingers. The thumb is the warmest digit with the temperature falling gradually between the 2nd and the 5th fingers. The big toe and the 5th toe are the warmest digits with the 2nd to the 4th toes being cooler. Conclusion. Measurement of skin temperature of the limbs using a thermal camera is feasible and reproducible. Temperature patterns in fingers and toes are consistent with similar temperatures in contralateral limbs in healthy subjects. This study provides the basis for further research to assess the clinical usefulness of thermography in the diagnosis of vascular insufficiency.
authors: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta, Msida MSD 2080, Malta ; Faculty of Health Sciences, Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 2DF, UK.
authors: Alfred
authors: 0000-0002-0489-6479
authors: A
authors: Gatt
authors: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta, Msida MSD 2080, Malta ; Faculty of Health Sciences, Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 2DF, UK.
authors: Cynthia
authors: 0000-0002-4251-1621
authors: C
authors: Formosa
authors: Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Msida MSD 2080, Malta.
authors: Kevin
authors: K
authors: Cassar
authors: Centre for Biomedical Cybernetics, University of Malta, Msida MSD 2080, Malta.
authors: Kenneth P
authors: KP
authors: Camilleri
authors: Centre for Biomedical Cybernetics, University of Malta, Msida MSD 2080, Malta.
authors: Clifford
authors: C
authors: De Raffaele
authors: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta, Msida MSD 2080, Malta.
authors: Anabelle
authors: 0000-0003-1709-7972
authors: A
authors: Mizzi
authors: Centre for Biomedical Cybernetics, University of Malta, Msida MSD 2080, Malta.
authors: Carl
authors: 0000-0002-7783-5917
authors: C
authors: Azzopardi
authors: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta, Msida MSD 2080, Malta.
authors: Stephen
authors: S
authors: Mizzi
authors: Centre for Biomedical Cybernetics, University of Malta, Msida MSD 2080, Malta.
authors: Owen
authors: 0000-0002-3680-3089
authors: O
authors: Falzon
authors: Centre for Biomedical Cybernetics, University of Malta, Msida MSD 2080, Malta.
authors: Stefania
authors: S
authors: Cristina
authors: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta, Msida MSD 2080, Malta ; Faculty of Health Sciences, Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 2DF, UK.
authors: Nachiappan
authors: 0000-0002-7072-1271
authors: N
authors: Chockalingam
references: Int J Low Extrem Wounds. 2006 Dec;5(4):250-60
references: 17088601
references: Angiology. 1981 Mar;32(3):155-69
references: 7224225
references: J Rehabil Res Dev. 1996 Oct;33(4):377-86
references: 8895132
references: Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2012;2012:1486-9
references: 23366183
references: Phys Med Biol. 2005 Dec 7;50(23):R63-94
references: 16306642
references: J Neurosurg. 1988 Oct;69(4):552-5
references: 3418388
references: J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2010 Nov 01;4(6):1386-92
references: 21129334
references: Foot Ankle Int. 2005 Oct;26(10):847-53
references: 16221458
references: Diabetes Care. 1994 Aug;17(8):835-9
references: 7956627
references: J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2013 Feb 1;242(3):388-95
references: 23327183
references: J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2010 Jul 01;4(4):857-62
references: 20663449
references: J Neurosurg. 1985 May;62(5):716-20
references: 2985769
references: Atherosclerosis. 2011 Jan;214(1):169-73
references: 21067754
references: Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi (Taipei). 2001 Aug;64(8):459-68
references: 11720145
references: Phys Ther. 1997 Feb;77(2):169-75; discussion 176-7
references: 9037217
references: Am J Med. 2007 Dec;120(12):1042-6
references: 18060924
references: J Vasc Surg. 2007 Jan;45 Suppl S:S5-67
references: 17223489
references: JAMA. 2013 Nov 27;310(20):2191-4
references: 24141714
references: Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2013 Nov;102(2):112-6
references: 24209599
references: Diabetes Care. 2003 May;26(5):1553-79
references: 12716821
references: Curr Diab Rep. 2007 Dec;7(6):416-9
references: 18255002
references: Infrared Phys Technol. 2012 Jul;55(4):221-235
references: 32288544
references: Sensors (Basel). 2010;10(5):4700-15
references: 22399901
references: IEEE Eng Med Biol Mag. 2002 Nov-Dec;21(6):41-8
references: 12613210
references: Diabetes Care. 2004 Nov;27(11):2642-7
references: 15504999