[Plate thermography in the evaluation of idiopathic carpal canal syndrome. Apropos of 32 cases].

During a period of eight months thirty-two cases (twenty-two unilateral and five bilateral) of idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome were studied at the Saint-Louis Hospital, Paris, France. The patients were found to benefit from the use of the preoperative technique, thermography in addition to routine clinical exams and complementary exams such as radiographs and E.M.G. The period of intervention was from the fifteenth day through the second and thirds months. By comparing the clinical and functional results before and after surgical treatment through the use of images from patients in the same condition, it can be concluded that the use of this simple technique can provide valuable information and is harmless in the care of idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome. It is demonstrated that thermography permits: the ability to foresee the action of treatment; the ability to survey the effects of treatment and therefore obtain a valuable prognosis; and finally, a method of deciding on other acrosyndromes.