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The role of bone SPECT/CT in the evaluation of lumbar spinal fusion with metallic fixation devices
- Source :
- Clinical nuclear medicine. 35(4)
- Publication Year :
- 2010
-
Abstract
- Purpose: It is difficult to evaluate the stability of the lumbar spondylodesis with metallic fixation devices by conventional imaging methods such as radiography or magnetic resonance imaging. It is unknown whether single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) may be useful to detect a lack of fixation of the pedicle screws and hence to predict instability of the fused vertebral segments. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of 9 patients who were referred to bone scintigraphy, including combined SPECT/CT, due to persistent pain or discomfort after stabilizing lumbar surgery with metallic implants. The SPECT/CT findings were compared with observations from subsequent surgical reexploration. Results: In 6 of 9 patients, the SPECT/CT fully or partially detected the vertebral level of loose pedicle screws. Of 9 cases, 2 were considered inconclusive, whereas in 1 case loose pedicle screws were detected at a wrong vertebral level. Conclusion: SPECT/CT may be useful to detect a lack of fixation of the metallic implants, and hence instability of the spondylodesis by evaluating the focal bone mineralization activity in relation to the pedicle screws.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Joint Instability
Male
medicine.medical_specialty
Radiography
Single-photon emission computed tomography
Sensitivity and Specificity
Lumbar
Fracture Fixation
medicine
Humans
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging
Pedicle screw
Radionuclide Imaging
Fixation (histology)
Aged
Lumbar Vertebrae
medicine.diagnostic_test
business.industry
Reproducibility of Results
Magnetic resonance imaging
General Medicine
Middle Aged
Prognosis
Spinal Fusion
Treatment Outcome
Bone scintigraphy
Metals
Female
Spinal Diseases
Radiology
business
Lumbar spinal fusion
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 15360229
- Volume :
- 35
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Clinical nuclear medicine
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....63b7f47f105810b8134e4934b40340e0