Guidelines for Neuro-Musculoskeletal Thermography | AAThermology

Guidelines for Neuro-Musculoskeletal Thermography | AAThermology: "Infrared SSR evaluation of the neuromusculoskeletal system is performed to provide an overview of the location, extent and severity of sympathetic skin response abnormalities.  When abnormalities due to vasomotor/sudomotor dysfunction occur there are associated changes in skin galvanic impedance and skin temperature.  Skin galvanic impedance changes map closely with skin temperature. In physics this is explained by the fractal nature of infrared waves and their relationship to resistance and conductivity.   The SSR evaluation can be performed from the cranium to the base of the spine (inclusive of all segments) and torso to the extremities, extended to the fingers and toes.

Common Indications
Some of the common indications for performance of extremity and spine infrared SSR imaging include (1-11):

Evaluation or follow-up of patients with known or suspected vasomotor instability.
Assessment of patients with presumptive Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) Type I or II – formally known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD),  Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Vaso-motor Headache and Barre’-Leiou Syndrome.
Pre-procedure assessment for planning of interventional therapeutics.
Follow-up to determine technical adequacy of surgical intervention, i.e., sympathetic block, sympathectomy, peripheral nerve implantation and/or spinal cord stimulator placement.
Follow-up to detect improvement, progression or spread of disease, which may reflect change in condition.
Evaluation of vasospastic disorders, rheumatic inflammation and unexpected post operative or post fracture pain.
Evaluation of somatoautonomic and visceroautonomic responses which may be present secondary to acute trauma or disease.
Evaluation of other disorders associated with autonomic dysfunction such as shoulder hand syndrome.
Evaluation of non myelinated neuropathies.
Mapping of the extent of vasomotor instability to guide sympathetic response generator identification.
Mapping of the location of vasomotor instability for impairment rating purposes.
Confirmation of diagnostic inclusion criteria for clinical diagnostic purposes.
Confirmation of diagnostic inclusion criteria for research purposes."



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