technetium-tc-99m-medronate and Spinal-Cord-Injuries

Forty patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) and heterotopic ossification (HO) were treated with etidronate and followed after therapy to determine the effects of long-term medication on heterotopic bone formation. Eighteen patients had tetraplegia and 22 had paraplegia. Early diagnosis of HO (positive bone scintigraphy and negative radiographic findings of HO) was established by 3-phase bone scintigraphy using 99m technetium-labeled methylene diphosphonate. All patients underwent treatment with etidronate, first with intravenous administration of 300 mg/day for 3 days followed by an oral administration of 20 mg/kg/day for 6 months. Eleven patients (27.5%) developed radiographic evidence of HO from 1.5 to 6 years after therapy. A low degree of HO was found in these patients; 8 had grade I and 3 had grade II ectopic ossification (Brooker's scale). The analysis of data showed that 2 different types of ectopic bone may form in the later stages after SCI. In 5% of patients, HO was found in the same anatomical site initially and finally, suggesting a "rebound" in mineralization of bone matrix not prevented by the administration of etidronate. The other type of HO was found in the majority of patients (95%) where the localization of HO showed different involvement of joints than initially, indicating de novo appearance of HO following SCI. The data suggest that etidronate given for a prolonged period in higher doses has, in addition to an inhibitory effect on crystal formation, a cellular effect on bone-forming cells.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Adolescent; Adult; Etidronic Acid; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Infusions, Intravenous; Long-Term Care; Male; Ossification, Heterotopic; Radionuclide Imaging; Recurrence; Spinal Cord Injuries; Technetium Tc 99m Medronate

Pressure sores are a serious complication of hospitalized and chronically ill patients. Evaluation for underlying bone infection can be made difficult by radiographic, nuclear imaging, and soft-tissue culture studies that are abnormal and suggest the presence of bone infection, when no infection is present. Evaluation by bone biopsy with histologic and microbiological studies can accurately and promptly diagnose whether bone infection is present. This allows appropriate treatment when infection is present, and prevents unneeded and potentially toxic antibiotic therapy when preliminary studies incorrectly suggest that infection is present.

Topics: Biopsy; Bone and Bones; Gallium Radioisotopes; Humans; Osteitis; Pressure Ulcer; Radionuclide Imaging; Spinal Cord Injuries; Technetium Tc 99m Medronate

The clinical findings, laboratory data, radiographs, and radionuclide studies of 50 patients referred for evaluation of possible heterotopic bone formation (HBF) were reviewed. HBF begins approximately 17 days following injury or neurologic insult, heralded by an acute rise in serum alkaline phosphatase (SAP), and increased vascularity on three-phase radionuclide bone imaging (RNBI). RNBI soft-tissue uptake is evident at 24 days and radiographic calcification is visible 1 wk later. Clinical signs and symptoms occur relatively late in the course of disease. HBF mimics thrombophlebitis and should be considered in all patients referred for venography if the clinical situation is appropriate. Serial SAP measurements and three-phase RNBI should allow early diagnosis in virtually all cases.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Alkaline Phosphatase; Calcium; Diphosphonates; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Ossification, Heterotopic; Paraplegia; Quadriplegia; Radionuclide Imaging; Spinal Cord Injuries; Technetium; Technetium Tc 99m Medronate

Computerized tomography (CT) was performed in 19 patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) who had large pressure sores and in whom other complications were suspected. CT detected the depth, extent, and degree of undermining of the edges of the pressure sores in 19 of 27 lesions. Conventional radiography detected four cases of pelvic osteomyelitis. CT detected eight additional cases of pelvic osteomyelitis, as well as eight clinically unsuspected peripelvic and intrapelvic abscesses. Technetium-99m bone scanning was not very helpful because of localization in chronic proliferative changes of bone and widespread foci of myositis ossificans, as well as in osteomyelitis. Gallium-67 scanning detected only one of six abscesses. It was not very helpful because of confusion of abscess and osteomyelitis with intense soft tissue swelling and cellulitis, which are often associated with pressure sores in patients with chronic SCI. CT was found to be, by far, the modality of choice for detection of pelvic osteomyelitis and abscess in patients with SCI.

Topics: Abscess; Adolescent; Adult; Biopsy, Needle; Diphosphonates; Gallium Radioisotopes; Humans; Osteomyelitis; Pelvic Bones; Pressure Ulcer; Spinal Cord Injuries; Technetium; Technetium Tc 99m Medronate; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The purpose of this study is to investigate the use of a three-phase bone scan for early detection of HO formation and as a method of evaluating Didronel treatment. A marked vascular blush and blood pool was noted about the hips sometimes with a normal bone scan and normal X-ray of the hips. This appeared to represent the precursor phase of HO formation since, on repeat scans, the bone scan showed accumulation of the bone-seeking radionuclide usually in 2 to 4 weeks and the X-ray revealed ossification. Fifty-two patients treated with Didronel between October 1978 and December 1979 were reviewed to determine the value of Didronel treatment. There were 23 patients in the series who either showed HO by X-ray on admission or developed HO on follow-up X-rays before beginning Didronel therapy. A three-phase bone scan revealed increased vascularity and accumulation of radioactivity on the bone scan in all areas of ossification on the X-ray and in some areas that did not appear to be involved. The other 29 patients had serial three-phase bone scans, X-ray study, and an alkaline phosphatase determination at approximately 2-week intervals. Didronel treatment was started as soon as the precursor phase of HO was demonstrated on the three-phase bone scan in most of these patients. Nine have not developed ossification that could be seen in X-rays during 3 months of continuing study. Six patients seen at follow-Up during the past year had known HO of 4 to 7 years duration. The three-phase bone scan was used to predict the maturity of HO in these patients. Our study in indicates that increased vascularity precedes rather than being secondary to HO formation as is suggested in the literature. Didronel treatment appears to be most effective if initiated during this precursor phase.

Topics: Diphosphonates; Etidronic Acid; Hip Joint; Humans; Ossification, Heterotopic; Radionuclide Imaging; Spinal Cord Injuries; Technetium; Technetium Tc 99m Medronate