New radioisotopic method for evaluation of the healing potential of a fracture

A new radioisotopic method for the evaluation of the healing potential of a fracture is developed in this paper. The centromedullary circulation in the bone is visualized under general anaesthesia by means of pertechnetate 99TcmO4 injected into the distal metaphysis of the tibia. Twenty-two patients with an average age of 25 years have had this examination. All suffered from a fracture of the leg with a worrying evolution. Isotopic osteomedullography has shown that the resumption of centromedullary circulation was the most favourable factor for good healing of the fracture. When the examination is positive, it seems advisable to wait until the focus is healed even if the clinical and/or radiographic survey are not in accordance, but when there is no resumption of the centromedullary circulation a pseudoarthrosis may well result. As the reliability of this technique is satisfactory, it should be used when doubt remains about healing of a fracture.