Nuclear medicine in pediatric orthopedics

In this presentation, the common clinical pediatric problems (appendicular growth aberrations, hip pain, back pain, some aspects of trauma, and inflammatory and infectious processes that can be addressed by nuclear imaging will be discussed. The accurate interpretation of bone scintigraphy in the evaluation of pediatric orthopedic conditions depends on the use of appropriate radiopharmaceuticals and imaging techniques specific for the pediatric population, a knowledge of physiologic changes in the growing skeleton, as well as the different disease processes peculiar to each age bracket. The physes (growth-plates) will be discussed in detail because they are the most active portion of the pediatric skeleton. Their activity (potential for growth) can be altered by physiologic, developmental aberrations (varus and valgus) and pathologic conditions (trauma, infection, etc.).