Feasibility of applying infrared thermal imaging for home monitoring of arthritis in children
Authors' conclusion
This study demonstrates the feasibility of applying TAWiC for arthritis detection through a smartphone-based infrared thermal camera operated by families at home.
Study context
- Population
- Children with knee pain and/or swelling for a week or longer; office joint exam as gold standard38 completed home imaging
- Participants
- 53 children
- Comparison
- Home-acquired vs office-acquired infrared thermal images of the knee
- Outcome
- Feasibility of at-home thermal imaging; variability of home skin temperature over 3 days; agreement with clinic measurements (TAWiC)
- Follow-up
- 3 consecutive days
Methodological detailshome vs in-office imaging, 3 consecutive days
- Home vs in-office imaging
- 3 consecutive days
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Anterior knee view, r across 3 days
0.58, 0.26, 0.24
Lateral knee view, r across 3 days
0.36, 0.41, 0.42
Further findings
Detection of knee arthritis using TAWiC thresholds
- Sensitivity (similar regardless of setting)
- 0.44
- Specificity (similar regardless of setting)
- 0.79
Original publication
Feasibility of applying infrared thermal imaging for home monitoring of arthritis in children. Pediatr Rheumatol Online J. Published 31 July 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →