Thermal camera as a pain monitor

Pain is the most common symptoms that everyone experiences in the lifetime. To measure the pain Wong-Baker and Hicks Facial Pain Scale is one of the most commonly used methods. Unfortunately, there is no objective measure for monitoring pain. Therefore by using the same principle, the authors suggest that a thermal camera can be used to monitor pain objectively and in follow-up.  

To evaluate pain, many subjective approaches are in use these days. Out of which, Wong Baker and Hicks Facial Pain Scale is one the most frequently used approach. The grade has been allocated as per the facial mimetic reaction of the patient. However, no objective measure was present to monitor pain. This study by using same Wong Baker and Hicks Facial Pain Scale principle evaluate the pain through a thermal camera which helps to discover immediate facial temperature changes.

A total of 30 subjects who visited the blood collection unit was selected to give facial thermal monitoring. The evaluations were noticed five minutes prior to needle puncture (BNP), throughout the needle puncture (DNP), and after needle puncture (ANP). TestoIRSoft 3.8 software program was employed to analyze the data and measured the horizontal line (HOR) between two pupils and first glabellar wrinkle, mean temperatures of the whole face (FFM) and highest temperature points (HP), and bilateral lines initiating from the nasolabial sulcus to oral commissure. Further, the paired sample t-test was used to assess all data statistically.  

Statistically, the ANP and DNP showed significant lower, BNP and DNP along with BNP and ANP showed higher temperature measurements of HOR, NLS-1, NLS-2, HP, and FFM. The most exciting finding during the study measured was the HP point was between the two eyebrows among 26 of the 30 volunteers.

As per the outcomes of the analysis, the thermal camera can be used significantly as an objective approach to measure pain and in the follow-up. Although, additional studies comprising non-healthy volunteers, mainly children, high-fever patients, intensive care patients, cancer patients, and immunosuppressive patients needed to be conducted.