Radionuclide assessment of heterotopic ossification in spinal cord injury patients.
Whole body 99Tc-pyrophosphate bone scans were obtained and correlated with skeletal radiographs for detection of heterotopic ossification in 135 spinal injury patients. There were 40 patients with recent injury (less than 6 months) and 95 with injury of over 6 months duration. Heterotopic new bone was detected on the bone scan in 33.7% of 95 patients with spinal cord injuries of more than 6 months duration and 30% of 40 patients with injuries of less than 6 months. The radionuclide scan was found to be useful in detection of heterotopic ossification at its early stage and in its differentiation from other complications in spinal cord injury patients.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D011756:Diphosphates; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D013667:Technetium; D016698:Technetium Tc 99m Pyrophosphate
D011756:Diphosphates; D016698:Technetium Tc 99m Pyrophosphate; D013667:Technetium