Knee_OA_Thermal_Imaging

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a degenerative joint disease, causing pain and reduced mobility, especially in older adults. Current imaging techniques, CT, MRI, and bone scintigraphy, mainly detect structural changes but provide limited insight into active inflammation. Additionally, CT, and scintigraphy expose patients to ionizing radiation, restricting frequent follow-up, while MRI is time-consuming, not readily repeatable, and adds significant financial burden to the patient. Infrared thermal imaging (IRT) is a non-invasive, radiation-free technique that detects subtle temperature changes reflecting joint inflammation. IRT provides immediate, real-time results, making it suitable for repeated assessments and timely clinical decision-making, including intervention modifications. This study aims to validate IRT for the assessment, immediate monitoring, and long-term follow-up of KOA, with a focus on its utility in evaluating treatment response for clinical use.