Narrow Results

Purpose: To evaluate the accuracy of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) compared with arthroscopy in the diagnosis of acute knee pain due to meniscal tear. Methods: Patients with knee pain that persisted for less than six months with normal plain radiographs that had arthroscopic surgery following SPECT scan were included. The main scintigraphic criterion for diagnosing a tear of the meniscus was tibial plateau activity on the planar image with at least a half crescent of peripheral tibial plateau uptake. The accuracy of SPECT in detecting meniscal tears was calculated according to the arthroscopic findings as the gold standard. Results: There were 68 patients in the study (46 males and 22 females). The mean age was 45.3 (17–72) years and the mean time between SPECT scan and surgery was 3.5 (1–6) months. The overall sensitivity of SPECT was 90%, specificity 70%, NPV 54%, PPV 95% and accuracy 87%. Conclusion: SPECT was found to be an accurate imaging technique in the diagnosis of symptomatic meniscal tears in patients with acute knee pain and unremarkable plain radiographs. Thus, SPECT may be helpful in selecting candidates for arthroscopy.

Osteoid osteoma is one of the commonest benign bone tumour of adolescence. Diagnosis is based upon the typical clinical features, site of occurrence and imaging findings. Occurrence of this lesion in an atypical site is associated with delay in diagnosis and challenges in management. We present a rare case of osteoid osteoma in scaphoid in a 14-year-old girl. Comprehensive work-up using radiograph, computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging and Tc⁹⁹-multidetector methylene diphosphonate (MDP) bone scan was used to make the correct diagnosis over other conditions with similar presentation like de Quervain tenosynovitis, intersection syndrome and inflammatory arthropathies. We also describe the treatment using CT-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of this lesion and a brief literature review regarding the incidence of this lesion and treatment options available.

Level of Evidence: Level V (Therapeutic)

Background: Triphasic bone scintigraphy (TPBS) is often used to diagnose complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). The primary aim of this study is to determine if the diagnosis of CRPS in patients with a positive TPBS (TPBS +ve) is accurate. A secondary aim is to determine if there was delay in treatment of patients who underwent TPBS compared to those who did not have a TPBS.

Methods: Of 225 consecutive patients presenting to the first author’s practice with a diagnosis of CRPS, 65 had TPBS performed before referral with 62 having TPBS +ve. The remaining 160 were clinically diagnosed and a TPBS was not done (TPBS-ND). Patients were classified into five categories – wrong diagnosis, dystonic-psychogenic hand, causalgia, flare reaction and irritative carpal tunnel syndrome (ICTS). Patients with flare reaction and ICTS were considered as having true CRPS and the rest were considered as misdiagnosis. The patients’ demographics, duration of symptoms, pre- and postoperative pain, functional score and patient satisfaction were compared.

Results: Of the 62 TPBS +ve, there were 38 (61%) misdiagnosis. The proportion of misdiagnoses was fewer in the TPBS-ND group (45%; p = 0.036). Thirty-two of the 62 TPBS group (52%) and 92/160 (56%) of the TPBS-ND group had surgical treatment. At a mean follow-up of 19 months, pain dropped 6.5 ± 2.5 points in the TPBS +ve group. Disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) score fell by 56 ± 27. The mean single assessment numeric evaluation (SANE) score was 8.6 ± 2.3. These results did not differ substantially from those of the TPBS-ND group.

Conclusions: A significant number of patients in this study who had TPBS +ve were misdiagnosed in this study. Outcomes after treatment of CRPS were consistently good despite the results of the TPBS. Patients with TPBS +ve had a significant delay to diagnosis. We conclude that TPBS is not useful in the management of CRPS.

Level of Evidence: Level III (Therapeutic)