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Sympathetic dysfunction in patients with persistent pain after prolapsed disc surgery. A thermographic study
C J de Weerdt1, H L Journée, R I Hogenesch
1Department of Neurosurgery, Academisch Ziekenhuis, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Acta Neurochirurgica
|January 1, 1987
Summary
Thermography effectively assessed vasomotor function in lower limbs after prolapsed intervertebral disc surgery. Findings correlate complaints with thermographic responses, suggesting sympathetic reflex dystrophy (causalgia).
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Vascular Medicine
- Surgical Outcomes
Background:
- Post-surgical residual complaints after prolapsed intervertebral disc (PID) surgery can impact quality of life.
- Understanding the underlying pathophysiology, such as vasomotor dysfunction, is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate vasomotor function in the lower limbs of patients following PID surgery.
- To determine the correlation between residual complaints and objective measures of vascular response.
Main Methods:
- Utilized infrared thermography to assess lower limb vasomotor function.
- Studied a cohort of 48 patients, comparing those with and without residual complaints post-PID surgery.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated a clear correlation between the severity of patients' residual complaints and their thermographic responses.
- Thermographic findings provide evidence supporting the presence of sympathetic reflex dystrophy in the legs.
Conclusions:
- Thermography is a valuable tool for evaluating lower limb vasomotor function after PID surgery.
- The study suggests that causalgia, a form of sympathetic reflex dystrophy, may underlie some residual complaints post-PID surgery.