Infrared thermography in the diagnosis of musculoskeletal injuries: A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal injuries (MSDs) have become a major public health problem worldwide. Current diagnosis techniques for MSDs are often associated with radiation exposure, expensive cost, or contraindication. Infrared thermography (IRT) is becoming a proposed tool to assist in diagnosing MSDs, but current evidence is inconclusive. Thus, herein we aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of IRT for MSDs. METHODS: We will search EMBASE, MEDLINE, EBSCO, Cochrane Library, SCOPUS, Web of Science, CNKI, SinoMed, and Wangfang. Two researchers will independently screen eligible studies. Study quality will be evaluated based on the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) tool. Data synthesis will be completed using STATA 14.0 software. A bivariate random-effects analysis will be utilized to estimate the pooled estimation of the diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and the summary receiver operating characteristics (SROC) curve. Subgroup analyses will be performed to determine heterogeneity sources. RESULTS: This systematic review and meta-analysis will provide reliable evidence about the diagnostic accuracy of IRT for MSDs. CONCLUSION: The conclusion of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. ETHICS AND COMMUNICATION: Given that this is a systematic review of published research, patient consent and ethical approval are not relevant. The findings of this study will be disseminated through conference presentations and publication in peer-reviewed journals. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42020184867.