The Clinical Significance of Bone Scan in Orbital Wall Fracture

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Occasionally it is necessary to differentiate an old fracture of orbit from newly developed one, especially when surgery is considered or legal problem is involved. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of bone scan in differentiating old fracture from new one. METHODS: Patients who had orbital wall fracture but did not fit into operative indication were included. After intravenous injection of 99mTc-MDP, bone scan was taken using Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) immediately after injury and with 2 month intervals afterwards. We analyzed the change of tracer uptake on the fracture sites. RESULTS: Sixteen out of 19 patients showed hot uptake on initial bone scan. In 3 patients, no hot uptake was observed on initial bone scan, which led us to believe that they were old fractures. Among 7 patients who had been followed up for more than 4 months, 5 patients showed disappearance of hot uptake in 6 months and 2 patients in 4 months. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that bone scan is useful in differentiating old fracture of orbit from newly developed one.