title: The appearance of bone scans following fractures, including immediate and long-term studies.
abstract: Bone scans were performed on 204 patients at intervals ranging from 6 hr to several years after traumatic fractures. The minimum time for a bone scan to become abnormal following fracture was age-dependent; however, 80% of all fractures were abnormal by 24 hr, and 95% by 72 hr, after injury. Three distinct temporally related phases were noted on bone scans as sequential studies showed a gradual return to normal. The minimum time for a fracture to return to normal on a bone scan was 5 mo. Approximately 90% of the fractures returned to normal by 2 yr after injury.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010710:Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013667:Technetium / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D010710:Phosphates; D013667:Technetium