[Evaluation of the sensitivity of bone scintigraphy and bone function tests for the diagnosis of aseptic osteonecrosis of the femur head in adults].

From 300 cases of primary osteonecrosis of the femoral head, proven histologically, the authors report: in 154 cases where a bony scintigraphy of the pelvis was performed, a definite hyperfixation is demonstrated 128 times (sensitivity of 83.1 per cent); in 104 cases where a functional exploration of the hip was performed, a hyperpressure was established 101 times (sensitivity of 97 per cent); in 84 cases, both examinations were performed. Most of the time (71 times), it concerns patients presenting few or no radiological signs: the sensitivity of scintigraphy is only 69 per cent when the sensitivity of functional exploration remains at 96.4 per cent. The authors report, in addition, that bony scintigraphy may be at fault when there is, histologically, an isolated reticular oesinophilic necrosis of the bone marrow.