Single-photon-emission computer tomography (SPECT) beats planar imaging for femoral head assessment
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Preoperative single-photon-emission computer tomography (SPECT) on patients undergoing internal fixation of intracapsular fractures of the femoral neck may give a "more accurate prediction of late failure" than planar isotope bone scans. Researchers from the University of Leicester and Leicester Royal Infirmary (UK) found that planar isotope bone scans can give false-negative results when used to assess vascularity of the femoral head. SPECT should be used instead for these patients when possible, they say (Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery).