[Value of bone scintigraphy in the recognition of scaphoid bone fracture difficult to detect roentgenologically].

Fractures result in increased metabolism of the bone and increased uptake of certain radioisotopes as demonstrated by bone scanning. By comparison, X-rays reveal a fracture only by a disturbance in skeletal structure. In this study, scaphoid fractures which were difficult to detect initially on X-rays were demonstrated by bone scan eight days later. The value of this diagnostic technique was demonstrated in several cases.