Observation of 99mTc-MDP-bone scan findings in traumatic vertebral fractures

Bone scan using 99m Tc-MDP is the most accurate and reliable method for the early detection of fracture, andgive the most accurate in formation about the healing process of fractured bone. Recent days, the medicolegalproblem about the injured time is frequently provoked in vertebral fracture patient by trauma. The authorsanalyzed the bone scan of vertebral fracture patients from March to Dec. 1983. The authors obtained results asfollows: 1. The minimum time for a fracture to return to normal on a bone scan was 4 month in cervical spine. 2.It was 12 month in thoracic spine. 3. It was 6 month in lumbar spine. 4. Surrounding soft tissue injury was healedwithin 10 days after trauma in our cases. 5. Focal hot uptake is persisted in case of callus deposition on plainfilm, although very small in amount. 6. Healing time is delayed in case of severely compressed vertebral body,belowed the half than normal height. 7. With bone scan it is possible to differentiate the fresh fracture from oldhealed, impossible by plain film. 8. Healing time is delayed in old age.