ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the value of SPECT/CT in evaluation on long-term healing of limb fractures.Methods SPECT/CT imaging characteristics of 68 patients with limb fractures 6 months after treatment were analyzed retrospectively,and the self-healing property of fractures was evaluated.Compared with clinical follow-up results or surgical findings,the accuracy of SPECT/CT in evaluation on long-term healing of fractures was calculated.Results For all 68 patients with limb fractures,X-ray and CT were not able to determine whether the fractures would heal in the future.On SPECT/CT fusion images,radioactivity concentrations through the fracture lines and cross on both sides of fracture were found in 52 patients,which indicated that the fractures were in the process of healing and had the ability of healing in the future.Clinical follow-up confirmed that fractures then healed in 46 patients,while in 6 patients did not.Another 16 patients showed no nuclide concentrations on the fractures,indicated that the fractures were nonunion and had little ability of healing in the future,and were finally confirmed with surgery.The accuracy of SPECT/CT in evaluation on fracture healing was 91.18％ (62/68).Conclusion SPECT/CT imaging can accurately evaluate the long-term healing of limb fractures,which contributes to therapeutic planning in the clinic.