Radioisotope scanning of the carpus for early detection of occult scaphoid fractures

ABSTRACT

Twenty-two cases of clinically suspected fractures of the carpal scaphoid bone and not visualised radiologically were subjected to Technitium 99m bone scan. Then was an increased focal uptake in 5 cases which proved radiologically to be fractures of the scaphoid, 2 - 4 weeks later. The remaining radioisotope negative cases proved to harbour no fractures, and their complaint disappeared within 8 weeks. Bone scan is a valuable test for early detection of occult scaphoid fracture