Monitoring skin temperature through orthopedic casts with infrared thermography: a feasibility study

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Dermatology

Background:

• Orthopedic casts are crucial for healing but can cause skin breakdown and pressure injuries (PIs) due to prolonged pressure.
• Monitoring sub-cast skin integrity is vital for early detection and prevention of PIs, reducing complications and healthcare costs.
• Skin temperature is a key indicator of tissue health and potential injury.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between cast-surface and sub-cast skin temperatures using infrared thermography.
• To assess the feasibility of non-invasively monitoring sub-cast skin integrity through orthopedic casts.
• To evaluate the influence of casting materials and layers on thermal signal transmission.

Main Methods:

• Benchtop experiments utilizing 3D-printed phantoms simulating various pressure injury stages, including wound size and exudate.
• Application of orthopedic casts of different compositions over the phantoms.
• Infrared thermography to capture thermal images of both cast surfaces and underlying phantom regions.
• Regression analysis to determine the correlation between cast-surface and sub-cast temperatures.

Main Results:

• A positive correlation was found between cast-surface and sub-cast temperatures.
• The strength of this temperature correlation decreased with an increased number of casting layers.
• Fiberglass casts exhibited higher signal-to-noise ratios compared to plaster casts, indicating more efficient heat transfer.
• The study demonstrated the potential for deriving sub-cast skin temperature information through orthopedic casts.

Conclusions:

• Infrared thermography shows promise for non-invasively monitoring sub-cast skin temperature, aiding in early pressure injury detection.
• The effectiveness of thermal monitoring is influenced by cast material and layering.
• Further research is needed to optimize spatial and thermal sensitivity for localized sub-cast skin assessments.