[Avascular necrosis of the femoral head following fracture of the neck. Early diagnosis using radioactive tracers].

The authors have injected Sr85 intravenously and studied its fixation in samples taken from the femoral head with a trephine in the course of reduction and fixation of fractures of the femoral neck. Thirty-eight cases were studied, of which ten developed secondary avascular necrosis of the femoral head. All the patients were followed up for more than three years. The standard technique is described in detail. The authors consider that this technique was valid. All the necroses were able to be predicted. The examination of the samples took about 15 minutes during the operation. The method makes it possible to choose between internal fixation and prosthetic replacement.