# Hand Neuropathies and Musculoskeletal Disorders: Complementary Diagnosis Using IR Thermography
## 4 Conclusions  
This study evaluated the potential of infrared thermography to provide valuable insights into the diagnosis and differentiation of hand neuropathies and musculoskeletal disorders. In this context, a series of thermal images were obtained from a group of participants with healthy hands (control) and from patients with hands affected by neuropathies and/or musculoskeletal disorders (injured). A statistical analysis was conducted to determine if the mean temperatures in the injury group were greater than in the control group.  
The results revealed significant differences in mean temperature between the control and injury groups across all the analysed regions of interest, both on the dorsal and palmar aspects of the hand. In particular, the injury group consistently exhibited higher mean temperatures, implying distinct thermal patterns associated with hand pathologies.  
Furthermore, [PERSON]'s test confirmed the equality of variances between the control and injury groups, endorsing the validity of the statistical comparisons. The use of independent samples \(t\)-tests across multiple regions of interest highlighted consistent trends of increased mean temperatures in the injury group, further substantiating the potential of infrared thermography for differential diagnosis.  
These findings underscore the utility of infrared thermography as a non-invasive and objective tool for assessing hand pathologies, offering a complementary approach to traditional diagnostic methods. The ability to detect thermal differences indicative of underlying conditions opens promising avenues for early detection, monitoring, and management of hand neuropathies and musculoskeletal disorders.  
Overall, the integration of infrared thermography in clinical practice could significantly enhance diagnostic precision and improve patient care, facilitating timely interventions and personalised treatment strategies. Future research in this area may expand the scope of applications and refine diagnostic protocols, ultimately contributing to more effective healthcare practices for individuals with hand-related conditions.  
Conceptualisation, J.C. and C.A.B.; methodology, J.C. and C.A.B.; validation, A.V. and J.M.; formal analysis, J.C.; investigation, J.C.; resources, C.A.B.; data curation, J.C. and C.A.B.; writing--original draft preparation, J.C.; writing--review and editing, C.A.B., A.V. and J.M.; supervision, A.V. and J.M.; funding acquisition, J.M. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.  
This research was funded by Project LAETA UIDB/50022/2020 and UIDP/50022/2020, as well as the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through the PhD research grant SFRH/BD/04699/2023.  
This study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, and was approved by the local ethics committee of the Centro Hospitalar de Entre o Douro e Vouga and Centro Hospitalar Universitario de Santo Antonio, on 16 July 2020, with the reference 2020.052(042-DEFI/044-CE).  
Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.  
The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy and ethical restrictions.  
The first author thanks Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) for a PhD research grant (SFRH/BD/04699/2023). We would also like to acknowledge the support from the Centro Hospitalar de Entre Douro e Vouga and all the participants for their availability to participate in this study.  
**Conflicts of Interest:** The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.