CLINICALLY SUSPECTED SCAPHOID FRACTURE - A COMPARISON OF MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING AND BONE-SCINTIGRAPHY

59 patients with clinical suspicion of scaphoid fracture, but negative radiographs at presentation and review, were examined by magnetic res onance imaging (MRI) and bone scintigraphy (BS). The diagnoses were co mpared with subsequent follow-up. There were four scaphoid fractures, 10 other fractures and three significant ligamentous injuries. All sca phoid fractures were identified by MRI and BS. MRI showed better inter observer agreement for scaphoid injury than BS and fewer false positiv e reports. Significant ligamentous injury and carpal instability diagn osed by MRI were not evident on scintigraphy. Using fast scanning prot ocols, the cost of MRI is comparable with that of BS. MRI should be co nsidered as the appropriate second line investigation in these clinica l circumstances.