APPEARANCE OF BONE SCANS FOLLOWING FRACTURES, INCLUDING IMMEDIATE AND LONG-TERM STUDIES

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 20  (12) , 1227-1231
Abstract
Bone scans were performed on 204 patients at intervals ranging from 6 h to several years after traumatic fractures. The minimum time for a bone scan to become abnormal following fracture was age-dependent; 80% of all fractures were abnormal by 24 h, and 95% by 72 h, 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.