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PloS one2024; 19(8); e0309603; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0309603

Comparison of a hand-held high-end resolution infrared thermography (FLIR P640) and a smartphone infrared thermographic device (FLIR One) for the assessment of skin surface temperature after anaesthetising the median nerve in Healthy horses.

Abstract: Accuracy of a median nerve block is normally assessed by testing skin sensitivity on the medial and dorsal aspects of fetlock and pastern. The present study evaluated subjective and objective analysis of skin surface temperature obtained with two different infrared (IR) thermography cameras (a high-end [FLIR P640] and a smartphone IR thermography device [FLIR One®]) before and after anaesthesia of the median nerve. Thermographic images were obtained at 0, 30, 60 and 90 minutes after performing a median nerve block with 2% mepivacaine hydrochloride. The subjective analysis of thermographic images using the FLIR P640 camera found assessors had >50% agreement for the presence of a nerve block (p<0.01) based on assessment of skin temperature within the expected dermatome of the median nerve. The objective analysis found skin temperature increases in the treated leg using the FLIR One® in the dorsal fetlock, dorsal pastern and medial pastern at 60 minutes, and the lateral pastern at 90 minutes (p<0.05). The treated leg, imaged using the FLIR P640 camera, had increases in skin temperature at the medial aspect of the fetlock at 60 minutes and lateral pastern at 90 minutes (p<0.05). Images obtained with the P640 camera had higher resolution and finer thermal detail. The images obtained with the FLIR One® camera had a wider temperature range with overall higher temperature measurements than the images obtained using the P640 camera (p<0.001). Skin temperatures in horses should be interpreted with caution when using the FLIR One® camera. Furthermore, the FLIR One® device detected an increase in skin surface temperature in both treated and non-treated legs and should not be used for assessment of a median nerve block. Infrared thermography appears to be useful for determining the presence of a high regional nerve block such as the median nerve block by observing increased temperatures of the skin surface after perineural anaesthesia. Further studies with a larger sample size as well as investigating the use of thermography for assessment of other regional nerve blocks are warranted.
Copyright: © 2024 Ferlini Agne et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
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Publication Date: 2024-08-30 PubMed ID: 39213320PubMed Central: PMC11364218DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0309603Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Comparative Study

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study compares two types of infrared thermography cameras – a high-end camera (FLIR P640) and a smartphone device (FLIR One) to assess skin surface temperature in horses after blocking the median nerve for pain relief. The conclusion of the study suggests that the high-end camera provides higher resolution and more accurate readings, while the smartphone device’s readings should be interpreted with caution.

Objective of the Study

  • The study was aimed at comparing two types of infrared (IR) thermography cameras – FLIR P640 and FLIR One – in terms of their effectiveness in assessing skin surface temperature changes after a nerve block procedure in horses.

Methodology

  • The researchers performed a median nerve block on healthy horses using 2% mepivacaine hydrochloride.
  • They then obtained thermographic images at 0, 30, 60, and 90 minutes after the procedure using both the FLIR P640 and FLIR One cameras.
  • The subjective analysis was based on assessors’ agreement on the presence of a nerve block by looking at skin temperature changes within the expected area of the median nerve.
  • The objective analysis involved looking at skin temperature increases at various parts of the treated leg.

Results of the Study

  • The subjective analysis indicated that assessors had over 50% agreement regarding the presence of a nerve block based on the data captured in thermographic images using the FLIR P640 camera.
  • The objective analysis revealed that there were noticeable skin temperature increases in the treated leg captured using both the devices.
  • Images taken with the FLIR P640 camera had higher resolution and better thermal detail.
  • Images taken with the FLIR One had a wider temperature range but had overall higher temperature measurements than those taken with the P640 camera, suggesting that the readings from the FLIR One should be interpreted with caution.
  • Furthermore, the FLIR One device detected an increase in skin surface temperatures in both the treated and non-treated legs, thus deeming it unsuitable for assessing a median nerve block.

Conclusion and Recommendations

  • The study suggests that the high-end FLIR P640 camera is more reliable in accurately assessing skin temperature changes associated with a median nerve block procedure in horses.
  • The researchers advise caution when interpreting data from the FLIR One device and state that it should not be used for assessing the median nerve block, due to its inconsistencies.
  • They propose that infrared thermography can be an effective tool for determining the success of a nerve block procedure.
  • The researchers also recommend further studies with larger sample sizes, and investigation into the use of thermography for assessing other regional nerve blocks.

Cite This Article

APA
Ferlini Agne G, Adamson K, McGlinchey L, Kravchuk O, Santos L, Schumacher J. (2024). Comparison of a hand-held high-end resolution infrared thermography (FLIR P640) and a smartphone infrared thermographic device (FLIR One) for the assessment of skin surface temperature after anaesthetising the median nerve in Healthy horses. PLoS One, 19(8), e0309603. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0309603

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 19
Issue: 8
Pages: e0309603

Researcher Affiliations

Ferlini Agne, Gustavo
  • School of Animal and Veterinary Science, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia.
Adamson, Kellie
  • School of Animal and Veterinary Science, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia.
McGlinchey, Leah
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn, AL, United States of America.
Kravchuk, Olena
  • School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia.
Santos, Luiz
  • School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine, The University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Bearsden, United Kingdom.
Schumacher, John
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn, AL, United States of America.

MeSH Terms

  • Thermography / methods
  • Thermography / instrumentation
  • Animals
  • Skin Temperature
  • Horses
  • Infrared Rays
  • Median Nerve / physiology
  • Smartphone
  • Nerve Block / methods
  • Nerve Block / instrumentation
  • Female
  • Male
  • Mepivacaine / administration & dosage
  • Mepivacaine / pharmacology

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Viscasillas J, Rave E, Cañón-Pérez A, Marti-Scharfhausen MLR, Hernández-Magaña EZ, Martínez A, Redondo JI, García-Muñoz A. Infrared Thermal Imaging as a Predictor of Lumbar Paravertebral Block Effectiveness in Cattle. Animals (Basel) 2026 Jan 2;16(1).
    doi: 10.3390/ani16010127pubmed: 41514814google scholar: lookup
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