THE USE OF TC-99 PYROPHOSPHATE SCANNING IN MANAGEMENT OF HIGH-VOLTAGEELECTRICAL INJURIES

The surface thermal burn associated with high voltage (HV) electrical injuries represents only the tip of the iceberg. Occult muscle damage may not become apparent for 5 to 10 days. In this study, the efficacy of Technetium-99m (Tc) pyrophosphate scanning was investigated. Early scanning (within 3 days of injury) of 19 limbs in 15 patients demonstr ated a sensitivity of 75 per cent, with a specificity of 100 per cent. The predictive value of a positive test, however, was 100 per cent. C ompared to a control group of 17 patients treated without Tc scan, the scan was not associated with reduced hospital length of stay or with decrease in the number of surgical procedures.