Abstract
Background: Isolated reports indicate the efficacy of infrared thermography for monitoring wound healing and septic complications, but no long-term analysis has ever been performed on this, and there are no data on the telethermographic patterns of surgical site healing after uncomplicated total hip prosthesis and after knee prosthesis. Materials and methods: In this prospective, observational, nonrandomized cohort study, two groups with forty consecutive patients each, who were operated on respectively for total hip and for total knee replacements, underwent telethermographic examination of the operated and contralateral joints prior to and at fixed intervals for up to 1 year after uncomplicated surgery. A digital, portable telethermocamera and dedicated software were used for data acquisition and processing. Results: No thermographic difference was observed preoperatively between the affected side and the contralateral side in both groups. After the intervention, a steep increase in the temperature of the operated joint was recorded after total hip replacement and after knee replacement, with a peak mean differential temperature measured three days postoperatively between the operated and unoperated joint of 3.1 ± 0.8°C after total hip replacement, and 3.4 ± 0.7°C after total knee replacement. Thereafter, the mean differential temperature declined slowly to 0.7 ± 1.1°C and to 0.5 ± 1.3°C at 60 days, and to 0.0 ± 1.0°C and -0.1 ± 1.1°C 90 days post-operatively, respectively. No further changes were observed for up to 1 year after surgery. Results were similar when comparing the average telethermographic values of an elliptical area where the main axis corresponded to the surgical wound. Conclusions: The surgical sites after uncomplicated total hip or total knee replacement show similar telethermographic patterns for up to 1 year from surgery, and can easily be monitored using a portable, digital, telethermocamera.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 81-86 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2011 |
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Keywords
- Hip
- Infection
- Knee
- Thermography
- Wound
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
- Surgery
Cite this
Healing of surgical site after total hip and knee replacements show similar telethermographic patterns. / Romanò, Carlo Luca; Romanò, Delia; Dell'Oro, Francesca; Logoluso, Nicola; Drago, Lorenzo.
In: Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Vol. 12, No. 2, 06.2011, p. 81-86.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Healing of surgical site after total hip and knee replacements show similar telethermographic patterns
AU - Romanò, Carlo Luca
AU - Romanò, Delia
AU - Dell'Oro, Francesca
AU - Logoluso, Nicola
AU - Drago, Lorenzo
PY - 2011/6
Y1 - 2011/6
N2 - Background: Isolated reports indicate the efficacy of infrared thermography for monitoring wound healing and septic complications, but no long-term analysis has ever been performed on this, and there are no data on the telethermographic patterns of surgical site healing after uncomplicated total hip prosthesis and after knee prosthesis. Materials and methods: In this prospective, observational, nonrandomized cohort study, two groups with forty consecutive patients each, who were operated on respectively for total hip and for total knee replacements, underwent telethermographic examination of the operated and contralateral joints prior to and at fixed intervals for up to 1 year after uncomplicated surgery. A digital, portable telethermocamera and dedicated software were used for data acquisition and processing. Results: No thermographic difference was observed preoperatively between the affected side and the contralateral side in both groups. After the intervention, a steep increase in the temperature of the operated joint was recorded after total hip replacement and after knee replacement, with a peak mean differential temperature measured three days postoperatively between the operated and unoperated joint of 3.1 ± 0.8°C after total hip replacement, and 3.4 ± 0.7°C after total knee replacement. Thereafter, the mean differential temperature declined slowly to 0.7 ± 1.1°C and to 0.5 ± 1.3°C at 60 days, and to 0.0 ± 1.0°C and -0.1 ± 1.1°C 90 days post-operatively, respectively. No further changes were observed for up to 1 year after surgery. Results were similar when comparing the average telethermographic values of an elliptical area where the main axis corresponded to the surgical wound. Conclusions: The surgical sites after uncomplicated total hip or total knee replacement show similar telethermographic patterns for up to 1 year from surgery, and can easily be monitored using a portable, digital, telethermocamera.
AB - Background: Isolated reports indicate the efficacy of infrared thermography for monitoring wound healing and septic complications, but no long-term analysis has ever been performed on this, and there are no data on the telethermographic patterns of surgical site healing after uncomplicated total hip prosthesis and after knee prosthesis. Materials and methods: In this prospective, observational, nonrandomized cohort study, two groups with forty consecutive patients each, who were operated on respectively for total hip and for total knee replacements, underwent telethermographic examination of the operated and contralateral joints prior to and at fixed intervals for up to 1 year after uncomplicated surgery. A digital, portable telethermocamera and dedicated software were used for data acquisition and processing. Results: No thermographic difference was observed preoperatively between the affected side and the contralateral side in both groups. After the intervention, a steep increase in the temperature of the operated joint was recorded after total hip replacement and after knee replacement, with a peak mean differential temperature measured three days postoperatively between the operated and unoperated joint of 3.1 ± 0.8°C after total hip replacement, and 3.4 ± 0.7°C after total knee replacement. Thereafter, the mean differential temperature declined slowly to 0.7 ± 1.1°C and to 0.5 ± 1.3°C at 60 days, and to 0.0 ± 1.0°C and -0.1 ± 1.1°C 90 days post-operatively, respectively. No further changes were observed for up to 1 year after surgery. Results were similar when comparing the average telethermographic values of an elliptical area where the main axis corresponded to the surgical wound. Conclusions: The surgical sites after uncomplicated total hip or total knee replacement show similar telethermographic patterns for up to 1 year from surgery, and can easily be monitored using a portable, digital, telethermocamera.
KW - Hip
KW - Infection
KW - Knee
KW - Thermography
KW - Wound
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79958115076&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=79958115076&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10195-011-0135-1
DO - 10.1007/s10195-011-0135-1
M3 - Article
VL - 12
SP - 81
EP - 86
JO - Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology
JF - Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology
SN - 1590-9921
IS - 2
ER -