Abstract
Two hundred and forty-one 99mTc-pyrophosphate bone scannings of 181 patients with trauma were reviewed in comparison with the bone X-ray films taken in the same day. Bone scannings were obtained, 4 hours after injection of 10mGi of 99mTc-pyrophosphate with a scintillation camera.
Forty-seven of 51 fractures determined by X-ray study were detected by bone scanning. Initial radiographic studies missed 13 fractures-5 in the rib, 5 in the foot and 3 in the other portions, however, bone scanning detected correctly all of these fractures. Forty-four cases of positive bone scanning with the negative X-ray film's were found in this series. Although final diagnosis was not obtained in these cases, many of these bone scannings might reveal true positive, since abnormalities on the bone scanning could be produced by periosteal injuries alone.
Bone scanning was very sensitive for picking up fractures in almost all portions of the body and especially useful for, detection of the fractures in such areas as rib, feet and hands which were frequently difficult to define by routine X-ray study. Bone scanning can eliminate false negative of the radiographic study in evaluation of trauma.
