Value of 3D CT in defining skeletal complications of orthopedic hardware in the postoperative patient.

OBJECTIVE

Conventional CT of the postoperative patient with metal hardware is frequently limited by beam-hardening artifacts. With the evolution of 3D CT, CT is an increasingly effective means of examining the postsurgical patient for the integrity of their hardware and the course of their healing.

CONCLUSION

Potential postsurgical complications such as nonunion, osteolysis, infection, and heterotopic ossification are all well assessed by 3D CT.