Thermographic assessment of skin temperature during a cold provocation test.

A description was made of the development and application of infrared thermography and fingertip thermometry for the assessment of finger skin temperature during a cold provocation test. Three hundred and seventeen lumberjacks, grinders, metalworkers, stone cutters, and students were examined in laboratory and field investigations. Under laboratory conditions, the influence of water temperature and exposure duration was studied, and skin temperature measurements were made on the volar and dorsal side of the fingers. In the field occupational health examination, infrared thermography and fingertip thermometry were simultaneously applied during a cold provocation test. The following three types of temperature reaction could be recognized: normal rewarming and moderate delay and strong delay of rewarming. The temperature distribution along the finger length was analyzed. The following conclusions were drawn for practical application of the thermometric methods. Skin temperature must be measured on all 10 fingertips, either on the volar or on the dorsal surface. Fingertip thermometry may be used in occupational health examinations. Infrared thermography may yield more information on the development of disturbances in peripheral circulation along the finger length and may be used in special clinical work.