[Our experience with bone scintigraphy in the diagnosis of wrist injuries.]

The authors evaluate, based on a group of 40 patients, the contribution of bone scintigraphy to the diagnosis of injuries of the wrist; scintigraphy has a high sensitivity and specificity in fractures of the navicular bone. In addition to injury of that bone the scintigraphic picture of both wrists makes it possible to focus attention also on affections of others structures and thus to contribute to a better diagnosis and treatment of the wrist. The authors found in fractures of the navicular bone in 70 % agreement with the X-ray examination made several weeks after the injury. As regards injuries of other bones of the wrist positive on scintigraphy, the X-ray examination was negative. In the authors' opinion the discrepancy between scintigraphy and X-ray examination is due to the limited possibilities of clasical X-ray pictures. By introduction of more perfect examination methods such as computer tomography and nuclear magnetic resonance in the diagnosis of wrist injuries the number of falsely positive scintigraphic findings should decline. The authors recommend to make scintigraphic examinations during the period between the third day to the end of the third week after the first examination at the ambulatory department. A negative scintigraphic finding rules out injuries of the wrist. Where it is not possible to make a scintigraphic examination, the authors recommend follow-up of the patients for at least six weeks following the first visit of the ambulatory department. Key words: bone scintigraphy, wrist injury, navicular bone of the wrist.