Thermographic diagnostics of instability of endoprostheses of large joints with assessment of somatosympathetic vasomotor reflex

Forty two patients with total hip (12 patients) and total knee (30 patients) replacements were examined by computer thermography method. Total joint replacement was performed after bone tumor resection. It was shown that additional afferent impulsation occured at implant loosening and the degree of vertical polysegmental irradiation of sympathic neurons excitation as well as the deficit of spinal cord inhibition on the side of arthroplasty incresed. Thermographic evaluation of the amplitute and volume of somatosympathic vasomotor reflex is an effective for the diagnosis of joint prosthesis loosening and it is subsidiary to the radiologic control.