Prognostic precision in postoperative ^99mTc-MDP scintimetry after femoral neck fracture

Abstract

A 2-year follow-up regarding healing complications, such as redisplacement, nonunion, and segmental collapse of the femoral head, was performed in 306 patients operated on for femoral neck fracture and examined with ^99mTech-netium-MDP scintimetry within 2 weeks postoperatively. Scintimetric evaluation was performed by selecting regions of interest over the femoral head on the fracture side and the intact side and by comparing the uptake. A femoral head ratio fractured/intact side thus was obtained.

Of 199 patients with an intact femoral head uptake (ratio S1.0), 181 showed no signs of healing complications at 2 years, whereas 18 had developed healing complications. Of 107 cases with a deficient femoral-head uptake (ratio < 1.0), 96 had developed healing complications within 2 years from the operation, while 11 cases had no signs of radiographic complications.

We conclude that ^99mTc-MDP scintimetry performed within 2 weeks from femoral neck fracture can predict the outcome of the healing course with a prognostic accuracy of 91 per cent.