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. 2021 Jul;15(4):807-815.
doi: 10.1177/1932296820912311. Epub 2020 Mar 20.

Infrared Thermography Follow-Up After Lower Limb Revascularization

Arjaleena Ilo  1 , Pekka Romsi  1 , Matti Pokela  1 , Jussi Mäkelä  2
Affiliations

Infrared Thermography Follow-Up After Lower Limb Revascularization

Arjaleena Ilo et al. J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2021 Jul.

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was with a simple clinical setting to compare skin temperature changes in the feet before and after revascularization and to identify possible correlation between ankle brachial index (ABI) and toe pressure (TP) values and foot skin temperature patient with and without diabetes.

Methods: Forty outpatient clinic patients were measured ABI, TP, and the skin temperature using infrared thermography (IRT) at the foot before and after revascularization. Patients in the revascularization group were divided into subgroups depending on whether they had diabetes or not and a wound or not.

Results: There were clear correlation between increase of ABI and TP and increase of the mean skin temperature on the feet after revascularization. The temperature was higher and the temperature change was greater among patients with diabetes. Side-to-side temperature difference between the revascularized feet and contralateral feet decreased after treatment. The mean temperature was higher in the feet with wound whether patient had diabetes mellitus or not.

Conclusion: The simple, prompt, and noninvasive IRT procedure showed its potential as a follow-up tool among patients with diabetes or peripheral arterial disease and previous lower limb revascularization.

Keywords: ABI; diabetes mellitus; infrared thermography; peripheral arterial disease.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Infrared thermograms indicate temperature gradients. Five measured sites are shown (circles) on the (left) plantar and (right) dorsal surfaces. (a) The patient before revascularization—ABI 0.55 and TP 57 mmHg on the right side. (b) The same patient after treatment—ABI 0.75 and TP 78 mmHg on the right side.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Differences in ankle brachial index, toe pressure, and temperature on the plantar and dorsal sides of the foot before and after the revascularization.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
The relation of temperature differences before and after revascularization with changes in ankle brachial index and toe pressure.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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