Does Skin-Surface Temperature Reflect Recovery After Total Knee Arthroplasty? A Prospective Pilot Study with Infrared Thermographic Analysis

Background/Objectives: Persistent skin-temperature changes have been described following total knee arthroplasty (TKA), but their clinical significance remains unclear. The aim of this study was to compare regional knee temperature before surgery and six months after TKA using infrared thermography. Secondary objectives were to evaluate regional thermal patterns and investigate their association with patient-reported clinical outcomes.

Methods

Twenty patients undergoing primary TKA for knee osteoarthritis underwent standardized thermographic assessment preoperatively and after six months. Thermograms were acquired at rest (T0), after a two-minute standardized flexion-extension exercise (T1), and after five minutes of recovery (T2). Mean temperatures were calculated for the whole knee and four regions of interest (ROIs). Pain and function were assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and Oxford Knee Score (OKS). Associations between thermographic findings and clinical outcomes were explored.