Jurić Filip, Antabak Anko, Žgaljardić Ivonne, Bosak Veršić Ana, Sršen Medančić Suzana, Augustin Goran
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia.
School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Šalata 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
J Clin Med. 2024 Nov 27;13(23):7213. doi: 10.3390/jcm13237213.
Clavicle fractures are among the most common in children, typically treated conservatively, with standard radiographs used to diagnose and monitor healing. Recently, infrared thermography (IRT) has been proposed as an alternative method for fracture detection, but no study has correlated the temperature changes during callus formation. Children aged 4-18 with X-ray-diagnosed clavicle fractures were included in the study. IRT measured temperatures above the fracture and contralateral healthy side on the 1st, 4th, 8th, 15th, and 22nd day after the injury. Along with IRT, an ultrasound was used to assess callus formation. The study included 27 patients with an average age of 12.4 years, mostly boys. The left side was more often affected than the right side (33%). We found a correlation between callus formation and the ∆T. A maximum temperature difference of an average of 0.7 °C was noted during the proliferative phase of callus formation. After the formation of the fibrocartilaginous callus (4th to 8th day), the temperature above the fracture declined until it was equal (22nd day) to that of the healthy side. The average temperature difference between the broken and the healthy sides was statistically significant on the 4th and 8th days (during callus formation). The increased skin temperature above the fracture correlates with the inflammatory phase of bone healing. After the callus is visible on ultrasound, the temperature linearly drops with no statistical difference between the injured and the healthy sides. The standard protocol for clavicle fracture treatment typically involves using X-rays to assess callus formation during follow-up. IRT has shown potential in diagnosing callus formation in children with clavicle fractures, potentially reducing the need for traditional X-rays.
锁骨骨折是儿童中最常见的骨折之一，通常采用保守治疗，使用标准X线片来诊断和监测骨折愈合情况。最近，红外热成像（IRT）已被提议作为骨折检测的替代方法，但尚无研究将骨痂形成过程中的温度变化进行关联。本研究纳入了4至18岁经X线诊断为锁骨骨折的儿童。在受伤后的第1天、第4天、第8天、第15天和第22天，使用IRT测量骨折部位上方及对侧健康部位的温度。除了IRT，还使用超声评估骨痂形成情况。该研究共纳入27例患者，平均年龄为12.4岁，以男孩居多。左侧比右侧更常受累（33%）。我们发现骨痂形成与温度差（∆T）之间存在相关性。在骨痂形成的增殖期，平均最大温度差为0.7°C。在纤维软骨痂形成后（第4至8天），骨折部位上方的温度下降，直至与健康侧相等（第22天）。在第4天和第8天（骨痂形成期间），骨折侧与健康侧的平均温度差具有统计学意义。骨折部位上方皮肤温度的升高与骨愈合的炎症期相关。在超声可见骨痂后，温度呈线性下降，受伤侧与健康侧之间无统计学差异。锁骨骨折治疗的标准方案通常包括在随访期间使用X线评估骨痂形成情况。IRT已显示出在诊断儿童锁骨骨折骨痂形成方面的潜力，可能减少对传统X线的需求。
