Detection of sacroiliac injury by bone scanning in fractures of the pelvis and its clinical significance.

Fifteen patients with stable pelvic fractures were investigated by technetium bone scanning of the pelvis and subsequently reviewed to study their recovery from this injury. Eleven of these patients had a significantly raised uptake of isotope over the ipsilateral sacroiliac joint suggesting a bone injury in this region, probably as a result of micro-avulsion fractures. All patients, with one exception, made a full recovery from their fractures within 4 months. We conclude from this that the region of the sacroiliac joint is frequently injured in isolated fractures of the pubic rami, but in the short term this has a good prognosis.