Question 1

what should be our concerns if nothing shows on a bone scan including old fractures.

Accepted Answer

Not to worry: 'Old' fractures depending on their 'age' frequently will not 'light up' or show any increased uptake on bone scans especially in younger patients. No reason to worry!

Question 2

how long would it take for small fracture to show up on a bone scan?

Accepted Answer

If acute fracture,: If u have sustained an acute fracture( which bone ?) it show show up on a 3- phase bone scan almost immediately. If , by small u mean size of the fracture. If u mean small( like it may not have broke) then the bone scan will probably be negative.

Question 3

is it odd that a nuclear bone scan would not detect 2 rib fractures?

Accepted Answer

It depends: Bone scan is very sensitive for acute and subacute fractures. However, after a fracture is completely healed, often time years after the injury, bone scan will usually be negative.

Best regards and good health...

Question 4

can a bone scan miss a fracture?

Accepted Answer

Bone scan: A recent fracture is identified on all bone scans.  The activity on the bone scan may last up to 6 months - 1 year.

Question 5

how long does a fracture stay intensely bright on a bone scan? it's been 7 months with sternal fx in 2 areas + still bright. dr will rescan in 6 month

Accepted Answer

The bone scan: is absolutely THE MOST SENSITIVE test for Fracture diagnosis and HEALING and stays "bright" for a long time beyond standard xrays and even CT scanning!!

THAT i why it is NOT generally used to diagnose or follow bone trauma!
Hope this is helpful
Dr Z

Question 6

hello- i fell 1/1/15, after xrays, bone scans and mri's i was finally told i had indeed fractured my coccyx.  here are the findings from my mri from 10/16/15 (10.5 months after my fall) i'm looking for options* ganglion impar block cause more pain*
findin

Accepted Answer

Fracture  healed ?: By now a fracture has  healed. You need evaluation, and  consideration of  an injection in the tender  area. This woudl be a  simple injection depending on the findings. See your physician. Uncertin what ganglin impar block cause more pain* findin means

Question 7

why are injections required before doing a bone scan to check for a stress fracture?

Accepted Answer

Only one: Only one inflection is needed. That is the injection of tc-mdp, the tracer taken up by he bones and detected by the nuclear medicine camera. This tracer shows active bone turnover and is focally "hot" in sites of fracture.

Question 8

what causes you to need to get an injection to do a bone scan to check for a stress fracture?

Accepted Answer

Radiotracer: A nuclear medicine bone scan is used to evaluate for conditions affecting bones including cancer, fractures, degenerative diseases etc. The radiotracer or radioactive material used is injected through a vein quickly reach your bones where it is deposited. A gamma camera is used to detect the radiotracer and images are created. The radiation is cleared from your body mostly in urine.

Question 9

bone scan "increased uptake bilateral si joints, left greater than right likely due to stresses" can this mean stress fractures??

Accepted Answer

This could B a--: -stress fx if of sudden onset,  if have had back pain 4 yrs you could have a spondylolysis @ that level. CT images are the best to see a defect as well as determining if stress or developmental.

Question 10

bone fractures for 14 weeks and not healing. normal?  bone scan and ct scan done stating serve trauma, which i haven't had. no sign of healing.

Accepted Answer

Not normal: The fractures may be the result of an abnormality of the bones, ie. Pathologic fractures. Multiple possible causes including hyperparathyroidism, ingestion/overproduction of glucocorticoids, multiple myeloma, leukemia, metastases, osteogenesis imperfecta, mafucci syndrome, etc. These fractures warrant an explanation if they aren't the result of trauma.

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Doctor answers about:

Do old fractures show up on bone scans

A member asked:

What should be our concerns if nothing shows on a bone scan including old fractures.

A member asked:

How long would it take for small fracture to show up on a bone scan?

A member asked:

Is it odd that a nuclear bone scan would not detect 2 rib fractures?

A member asked:

Can a bone scan miss a fracture?

A member asked:

How long does a fracture stay intensely bright on a bone scan? it's been 7 months with sternal fx in 2 areas + still bright. dr will rescan in 6 month

A member asked:

Hello- i fell 1/1/15, after xrays, bone scans and mri's i was finally told i had indeed fractured my coccyx. here are the findings from my mri from 10/16/15 (10.5 months after my fall) i'm looking for options* ganglion impar block cause more pain* findin

A member asked:

Why are injections required before doing a bone scan to check for a stress fracture?

A member asked:

What causes you to need to get an injection to do a bone scan to check for a stress fracture?

A member asked:

Bone scan "increased uptake bilateral si joints, left greater than right likely due to stresses" can this mean stress fractures??

A member asked:

Bone fractures for 14 weeks and not healing. normal? bone scan and ct scan done stating serve trauma, which i haven't had. no sign of healing.

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