Visualizing ACNES and LUCNES With DIRT

Anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome (ACNES) is caused by nerve entrapment in the abdominal wall. Recently de Weerd and Weum have suggested lumbar cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome (LUCNES) as a name for a similar condition in the lower back. DIRT can potentially be used to identify the locations of perforators, thereby also indirectly identifying the location of nerve entrapment in ACNES and LUCNES, when a point of maximal pain corresponds to a hot spot. This study evaluates the location of hot spots on DIRT in relation to tender points and perforators visualized with CT angiography and color Doppler. In the ACNES patients, DIRT performed with a low-cost smartphone thermal camera will be compared to DIRT with a professional thermal camera to evaluate the usefulness of low-cost equipment to visualize the point of nerve entrapment.