Prospective serial technetium diphosphonate and indium-111 white blood cell labeled imaging in primary uncemented...

Although technetium diphosphonate (TcMP) and Indium-111 white blood cell labeled (Ind-WBC) imaging are reported useful in identifying aseptic and septic loosening in cemented hip arthroplasty, their usefulness has not been identified in uncemented porous coated hip arthroplasty. We attempted to define the natural history of TcMP and Ind-WBC imaging in primary P.C.A. uncemented total hip arthroplasty. Twenty-five hips in 21 patients were scanned immediately postoperatively, at 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, and 24 months after surgery with both TcMP and Ind-WBC tracers. Clinical and radiographic follow-up were also obtained at each interval. Intensity and distribution of tracer activity were recorded as well as the time when stabilization occurred around the acetabulum, femoral porous surface areas, and femoral stem tip. Acetabular cup and femoral porous surface areas stabilized in the first year on both TcMP and Ind-WBC imaging. Focal femoral hip activity continued at 24 months in 72% of TcMP and 24% of Ind-WBC images. TcMP and Ind-WBC images used to assess uncemented total hip arthroplasty should not be over interpreted. Although persistent intense activity after one year around the acetabulum and porous surface femoral areas should be considered abnormal for both TcMP and Ind-WBC scans, femoral tip activity is present in the majority of patients, with or without thigh pain, at 24 months on TcMP scans. Tip activity can also persist at 24 months on Ind-WBC images and should be interpreted in conjunction with TcMP images.