Diagnostic value of bone scintigraphy in the complications of total replacement of the hip.

Scintigraphy with bone-specific 99m-technetium-Sn-ethylenediphosphonate (phosphon) was performed in 27 patients having undergone total hip replacement before and, in case of complaints, also after operation. On suspicion of infection a study with 67 gallium citrate was also made. Completion of clinical, roentgenological and laboratory findings with an isotope study may help in deciding whether complaints are only due to the loosening of the prosthesis or to infection.