Temperature Assessment and Plantar Inflammation

Abstract

The rehabilitation of the healed plantar ulcer is difficult to monitor by routine methods. Monitoring of skin temperature has been fo und to detect the early inflammatory re sponse of the soft tissues to the insult imposed during walking. Methods of doing this are discussed and case histories described. The human hand, though quantit atively inaccurate, can effectively detect temperature contrasts. If ro utine management follows the recognition of early inflammatory responses, deformity can be prevented.