Use of hybrid SPECT/CT for diagnosis of radiographic occult fractures of the wrist.

Wrist and hand traumas represent most traumatic lesions. Any delay in treatment involves complications compromising the functional prognosis. We report typical examples illustrating the incremental diagnosis value of hybrid SPECT/CT compared with planar scintigraphy with semiquantitative analysis in the diagnosis of radiographic occult fractures of the wrist. Hybrid imaging diagnoses much more of scaphoid lesions because bone disruptions cannot always be shown on CT, as well as carpal-associated lesions and differentiates chronic arthritis or ligament lesions. This noninvasive approach could lead to improved therapeutic strategies with a beneficial impact on prognosis.