title: Positron emission tomography-computed tomography in the assessment of viability of femoral head in acetabular fractures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to use positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) imaging as a tool for assessment of viability of femoral head in acetabular fractures and help in early detection of complications like avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head.
  
  
  METHODS
  In our study PET-CT was done pre-operatively and six weeks postoperatively in 31 patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of acetabular fractures and fracture-dislocations. There were 26 male and five female patients who were treated in our institute between January 2009 and July 2010. Patients were subsequently followed up with plain radiographs for a mean period of 3.8 years and minimum of two years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although seven out of 31 patients showed avascularity of the femoral head on PET-CT in the pre-operative period, only two patients progressed to AVN at final follow up, whereas the other five patients regained the vascularity at the end of six weeks. There was no statistically significant correlation between vascular status on pre-operative scan and the presence of AVN on final follow-up radiograph. There was a significant correlation between avascularity of the femoral head on the sixth week PET-CT and AVN in the final radiograph.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PET-CT seems to be useful as a prognostic investigation in the assessment of the vascular status of the femoral head following injuries around the hip. Both pre-operative and postoperative imaging are necessary to understand the time-dependent changes in blood flow following injury.
authors.affiliation: Karanataka Institute of Diabetology, Bangalore, India, docbelehalli@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Pavan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Belehalli
authors.forename: Malhar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Bangalore
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Prakash
authors.forename: Lokesh
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Veerappa
mesh_terms: D000077:Acetabulum / Q000293:injuries*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005270:Femur Head / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005271:Femur Head Necrosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed