[Diagnosis of loosening of carbon-made cup prostheses by radionuclide imaging (author's transl)].

Diagnosis of loosening of joint prostheses has become easier by using radionuclide imaging in addition to common radiography. Double-cup hip prostheses have been used more and more in joint surgery of younger patients in the last ten years. But early signs of loosening of the metal cup are difficult to demonstrate because of the high absorption rate of the used materials. Cup protheses of carbon have been implanted since several months in the Orthopedic Clinic Giessen. Tests in a model and in a patient have shown, that it might be possible to evaluate loosening of carbon-cup prostheses by radionuclide imaging.