Can serial scintigraphic studies detect delayed fracture union in man?

The uptake of the bone-seeking tracer technetium-99m-methylenediphosphonate increases following bone fracture as bone healing occurs. To investigate the pattern of change in normal healing and compare it with delayed union and nonunion, an analysis of automated computer profiles was carried out on serial scan data for 22 patients. The type of fracture (simple, comminuted, etc.) influenced the appearance of the activity profile; however, no significant differences in the patterns of change were noted between normal healing and delayed or non-union.