[On the usefulness of bone scintigraphy for detecting loosening of articular prostheses (author's transl)].

The most important complication of articular substitution is the loosening of the prostheses as a result of permanent overstraining, trauma, chemical or infectious noxae. The value of bone scintigraphy in the diagnosis of loosening of the endoprothesis was examined in 53 articular prostheses (49 hip joints and 4 knee joints). A pathological scan was evident in all cases where the prosthesis had become loose (18 cases), whereas a normal scan was found in 34 firmly positioned prostheses. A false positive scan occurred in one case of periarthritis. Bone scintigraphy can be employed as a means of diagnosing loosening of prostheses after a period of nine months following the operation; up to that time, enhancement can be due to the operation. A positive scan in case of loosening of the prosthesis is manifested earlier than radiological signs. For this reason, scintigraphy can be recommended as a routine examination method in pain after articular substitution surgery.