Early prediction of avascular necrosis of the femoral head following femoral neck fractures

The treatment of acute fracture of the femoral neck remains an unsolved problem. Fifty-three patients are presented using 99mTc phosphate scintigraphy with quantitative computer interpretation to predict the viability of the femoral head following acute fracture. The accuracy of prediction was 92.5%; the scans were incorrect in four patients. Armed with a safe, simple diagnostic procedure and a greater than 90% accurate prognosis, a rational program of treatment can be prescribed for the individual patient.