New, non-invasive thermographic examination of body surface temperature on tetraplegic and paraplegic patients, as a supplement to existing diagnostic measures

Study design: Prospective clinical trial of consecutive tetraplegic and paraplegic cases. Objectives: The detection of the neurological level of paralysis by thermographic imaging. Setting: Spinal Cord Injury Center in Germany Halle (Saale) and Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials in Halle (Saale). Methods: Twelve tetraplegic and 4 paraplegic patients (ASIA A-C) were examined by thermal imaging with a diagnosis of a temperature difference on the skin surface. Results: A new application of thermography for diagnostic purposes could be demonstrated, especially by the new methodical approaches to evaluate thermographic images. Conclusion: Thermography could prospectively be applied in the emergency diagnosis and therapy for accident victims as a supplement to existing diagnostic measures for spinal cord injury.