Bone scintigraphy of vascularized bone transfer in maxillofacial surgery.

Postoperative assessment of the viability of seven vascularized bone transfers was done in seven patients by means of radionuclide imaging within the first postoperative week. The results of a positive bone scan correlated with an uncomplicated union, with no frank failures. The two negative results both led to total failure, necessitating removal of the transferred bone. Radionuclide imaging in the first postoperative week after vascularized bone transfer appears to be a useful assessment of the anastomotic patency and the viability of the revascularized bone grafts.