Medical thermography as a method of visualization in the wounds and wound infections care: application experience and current state of the matter

Abstract

Medical thermography (MT) is an actively developing technology that covers many areas of medical practice. Unfortunately, the usefulness of this method in such a crucial area as the treatment of wounds and wound infections are almost unknown. Moreover, there is no data on whether the method will be effective in emergency medical setting, where the conditions are far from standards, necessary for its correct implementation. Clinical evaluation in a wide range of pathologies, including soft tissue infections, local and peripheral blood circulation disorders, osteomyelitis after orthopedic trauma indicates, that infrared imaging diagnostic patterns are valid and almost independent of the environmental conditions. By all its qualities, MT could become the important method in rapid wounds and wound infections diagnostics to use in any surgical departments in the hospitals of any level and to be of interest to verify peripheral vascular disorders in patients with combat extremities injury. To clarify the thermosemiotics, including numerical criteria, as well as the environmental boundary conditions, at which medical thermography maintains its diagnostic value, further clinical studies are needed to support the clinical utility of thermography.