[The effect of inactivity-induced osteoporosis on the scintigraphic image of bone lesions of the wrist].

In addition to its established oncological indications the sensitivity of bone scintigraphy is of steadily increasing significance in traumatology. Inactivity-induced osteoporosis plays a major role during the immobilization period in the plaster cast. In the region of the joints remodelling intensity may reach such a high level that the non-injured bone shows a higher rate of accumulation than the fracture. This process already begins between the third and fourth week of immobilization. The highest uptake is found after fracture of the scaphoid bone at the end of twelve weeks of immobilization. Control scintigraphies at intervals of several days are indicated to differentiate between various clinical conditions (pseudoarthrosis, activated osteoarthrosis, algodystrophy in case of doubtful x-ray results).