Preoperative 99mTc-MDP scintimetry of femoral neck fractures.

Preoperative 99mTc-MDP-scintimetry was performed in 117 patients with femoral neck fractures. Scintimetry was shown to be superior to visual evaluation. The ratio was calculated of the uptake in the femoral head of the fractured side over that in the unfractured side, with compensation for the increased trochanteric femoral activity found on the fractured side. A ratio above 0.90 correlated well with uneventful healing in both undisplaced and displaced fractures. Preoperative scintimetry is of great value in the choice of primary treatment of femoral neck fractures.