sia, concluding skin temperature increase to be a useful indicator of sympathetic blockade, demonstrating that temperature elevation always preceded the upper limits of sensory blockade, and had a similar pat- tern of onset.
Epidural Catheter Positioning in Labor and Delivery
Foot temperature has successfully been demonstrated as an indicator in the functional positioning of an epidural catheter. In a recent study conducted at Georgetown University Medical Center involving 70 par- turients, Shin et al1 confirmed the associated temperature changes provided better and objective evidence compared to the sensory pin- prick test or subjective pain scales. The rapid and differential rise of foot temperature allowed early positioning of the patient with the un- blocked cooler side down.
Joint Inflammation
Thermographic techniques have generally been used to demonstrate that surface temperature variations are an effective means to assess joint inflammation due to trauma and disease. Although the technique is effective it is not readily available in most clinical situations. In almost any clinical environment, infrared thermometry can provide the same basic data rapidly and at low cost.
In a paper on skin tempera- ture as an indicator of joint in- flammation, Guadagni et al (1974)2 describe the surface temperature elevation over ar- thritic joints and the correla- tion of this measurement with the more conventional inflam- matory index. They con- cluded averaged joint skin temperature not only offers quantitative but as reliable and reproducible information
about the degree of joint inflammation as conventionally used param- eters such as inflammatory index, grip strength, and joint size. Re- corded temperature data provides an objective means for the evalua- tion of the joint and its treatment modality over time. Both the magni- tude of the temperature elevation and its profile across the joint may be used in the evaluation.
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