S138

"THE THERMATOME" A NEW CONCEPT LK NEUROSURGICAL THERMOGRAPHY 291 Poster

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IN THE XANAGEblENT OF PAIN SYNDROMES. Pierre I.. LeRoy, M.D.,
/ Sunday
F.A.C.S.,C.C.E. Chief of Neurosurgery; Wilmington Medical Glacier 5
Center, Chief of tieurosurgery St. Francis Hospital, Wilmington, Delaware;
?irector Delaware Pain CLinic and Thermography T,aboratory.
U)normal thermal scans due to alterations in metabolism and microvascular
:irculntion come ultimately under neural control. Based on our investigation
-our classic thermal dysfunction patterns are now identifiable; Yeuropathic.
';irculatory, Skeletal, and Myofascial; these wilL be defined. Specific
(differential diagnosis of these painful syndromes is now possible using
thermography in each but is especially useful when they occur concomitantly
in the human patient. Thermography, therefore, can now be used in three
areas. Pre-Operative, Intra-Operative and Post-Operative and can image the
segmental "Thermatome" abnormality. This cLinica segmented thermographic
pattern mediated by somato sensory and sympathetic dermatomes pathways will
be demonstrated and discussed. The clinical thermographic applications for
entrapment neuropathy, correlative study of L64 CAT scan, interventionnl
pharmacologic and epidural bio-compatibLe electrical stimulation and neuro-
surgical correlation in 36 cases wilL be discussed in pain management.

ASSESSMENT OF BACK PAIN BY CONTACT THERMOGRAPHY pCId;;ster

OF EXTREMITY Rubem Pochazevsky, New
DERMATOETES.
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i Glacier 6
Hyde Park, NY, 11042, USA, Phillip Meyers, New
Orleans, LA, 70124, USA, and Charles Wexler,
Encino, CA 91316, USA.

Aim of Investigation: Pain is a subjective symptom which,

until now, has defied objective imaging. This is especially
true of spinal root compression syndromes in which associated
back pain is often referred to the extremities.
Methods: Forty-eight symptomatic patients going for myelo-
graphy and surgery were also studied by liquid crystal thermo-
graphy.
Results: The liquid crystal thermography was 92% accurate
compared to 85% for the myelography in this group.
Conclusions: The thermogram is an effective non-invasive
painless screening procedure that can be done in an office to
evaluate nerve root syndromes.