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Spondylolysis: Bone Scans


- See: Radioisotope Scanning:

- Indications:
    - to rule out another lesion, such as osteoid-osteoma, infection, or malignant disease;
    - w/ clinically suspected spondylolysis that but cannot be confirmed w/ x-rays;
    - for detection of small or partial fractures & areas of increased bone turnover at site of a healing fracture;
           - bone scans will be positive in patients who have had symptoms for only five to seven days;
           - there is a stress-reaction stage before fracture which may be detected initially by radioactive bone-scanning;
    - to distinguish between patients w/ established non-union versus patients
           w/ slowly healing frx (who would benefit from immobilization);
           - to assess recovery from frx and to determine when athlete can return to competition;
           - bone scans allow an assessment of the acuity of the lesion, with increased uptake seen with acute lesions;

- Contra-indications:
    - patients who have had symptoms for > 1 year or those who are asymptomatic;
    - bone scans are not indicated once the lesion has become established



Significance of bone scintigraphy in symptomatic spondylolysis.

Bone scintigraphy in symptomatic spondylolysis.

Bone scintigraphy in the assessment of spondylolysis in patients attending a sports injury clinic.