Scintigraphic and X-ray arthrographic diagnosis of femoral prosthesis loosening: concise communication.

In order to determine loosening of femoral components of conventional total hip arthroplasties, a comparison of radionuclide (RA) and radiographic arthrograms (XA) was performed. The hips of 29 patients were studied with radiographic contrast and intraarticular Tc-99m sulfur colloid. The XAs were positive for loosening in 10/29 studies, whereas the RAs were positive in 19/29 studies. In five of ten in which both studies were positive, the RA showed femoral prosthesis loosening more clearly than the XA. By surgical follow-up, there were four false-negative XAs . Our data suggest that the RA is valuable in determining femoral component loosening.