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Temperature is an early indicator of foot problems in diabetic patients
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Long before any clinical manifestations, heat can be detected, and the
more sensitive the detection instrument, the earlier the warning.. As a
key indicator of complications from the disease, temperature has been
incorporated into routine diabetic foot screening protocols.
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Two foot problems of major concern are foot ulcers and neuropathic
fractures. Because of peripheral neuropathy, diabetic patients may not
feel pain, and can continue walking on the foot. If the problem is not
identified and treated in a timely fashion, they are at high risk for ulcer-
ation, infection, and deformities, with amputation of a lower limb always
a real and devastating complication.
Using the DermaTemp for temperature monitoring in diabetic foot screen-
ing can immediately determine the thermal geography of the area of
concern, identify hot spots, and locate cool areas. As a diagnostic
tool, it is objective and quantifiable. Because it is relatively insensitive
to user technique, many physicians have recommended their patients
monitor their own foot and leg temperatures with the DermaTemp as
part of their patient’s self-care program.
Peripheral Nerve Injury
Temperature monitoring can be used in the quantification of peripheral
nerve injury, differentiating among organic nerve damage, psychogenic
factors, or even malingering.
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Skin temperature is altered in the field of
an impaired peripheral nerve due to sympathetic vasomotor disturbance.
Skin temperature in a normal individual differs between sides of the
body only 0.24 ± 0.073°C. In patients with peripheral nerve injury, the
temperature of the skin innervated by the damaged nerve deviates an
average of 1.55°C.
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Temperature monitoring has been found to be highly successful in iden-
tifying the difficult pain problems e.g., diabetic or ischemic radiculopathy,
facial pain syndrome, carpal tunnel, whiplash injuries of neck and up-
per back, and the phantom limb pain seen in amputees.
Cerebrovascular Disorders
Temperature monitoring is a useful method for screening for cerebrovas-
cular disease before subjecting the patient to the risk of invasive proce-
dures. In the evaluation of extracranial carotid complex, temperature
monitoring demonstrates a high degree of sensitivity in detection of
hemodynamically significant stenosis of the internal carotid artery.
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Early detection allows the physician to institute appropriate therapy before
a stroke occurs.
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