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. 2015:2015:831369.
doi: 10.1155/2015/831369. Epub 2015 Jan 13.

Thermographic patterns of the upper and lower limbs: baseline data

Alfred Gatt  1 , Cynthia Formosa  1 , Kevin Cassar  2 , Kenneth P Camilleri  3 , Clifford De Raffaele  3 , Anabelle Mizzi  4 , Carl Azzopardi  3 , Stephen Mizzi  4 , Owen Falzon  3 , Stefania Cristina  3 , Nachiappan Chockalingam  1
Affiliations

Thermographic patterns of the upper and lower limbs: baseline data

Alfred Gatt et al. Int J Vasc Med. 2015.

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.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A diagram showing data capture, with the participant lying supine while a thermographic image of the plantar surface was taken. The angle of measurement was kept approximately perpendicular to the plane of acquisition.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Participants were asked to keep their feet momentarily in slight dorsiflexion and pointing vertically upwards, while a thermal image (a) and a visual image (b) were acquired. Measurement regions were then annotated on the thermal image (a) for further analysis.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Participants were asked to hang their legs over the edge of the couch, with their feet held momentarily in slight plantarflexion, while a thermal image (a) and a visual image (b) were acquired. Measurement regions were then annotated on the thermal image (a) for further analysis.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Participants were asked to spread the palms and fingers of each hand in front of the cameras one at a time, while a thermal image (a) and a visual image (b) were acquired. Measurement regions were then annotated on the thermal images (a) for further analysis.
Figure 5
Figure 5
The mean thermographic temperature of each region (green dot) and the standard deviation across subjects for each region (red bars).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Matrix of the participant-averaged thermographic temperature mean differences between each region-pair.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Matrix of the standard deviations of the participant-averaged thermographic temperature mean differences between each region-pair.
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