Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39981452›Full record

ArticleCureus2025

Prevalence of Degenerative Spinal Hot Spots on Bone Scintigraphy Among Orthopedic Patients.

Helena Milavec, Victoria Schimmelpenning, Nikki Rommers, Mara I Dimitriu, Martin Jaeger, Clément L Werner, Robin Brugger

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Article in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Helena MilavecOrthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Aarau Cantonal Hospital, Aarau, CHE.
Victoria SchimmelpenningOrthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Aarau Cantonal Hospital, Aarau, CHE.
Nikki RommersClinical Research, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, CHE.
Mara I DimitriuOrthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Aarau Cantonal Hospital, Aarau, CHE.
Martin JaegerOrthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Aarau Cantonal Hospital, Aarau, CHE.
Clément L WernerSpine Surgery, Etzelclinic, Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery, Pfaeffikon, CHE.
Robin BruggerOrthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Aarau Cantonal Hospital, Aarau, CHE.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeEmerging nuclear imaging technologies are advancing the field of spinal diagnostics for degenerative changes. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of spinal hot spots in an orthopedic population undergoing bone scintigraphy (BS) for reasons unrelated to the spine and to assess the correlation of these hot spots with the presence of corresponding spinal complaints.

methodsA retrospective analysis of patients from the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology who provided general consent for the use of their medical data. Adult patients who underwent single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) over a two-year period for non-spinal complaints, along with a corresponding whole-body BS, were included. The primary endpoint was the prevalence of degenerative spinal hot spots detectable on BS. The secondary endpoint evaluated clinical complaints recorded in medical records for each spinal region.

resultsAmong 30 patients (mean age: 66.1 years; 30% male, 70% female), the prevalence of spinal hot spots on BS was 23.3% (n=7) in the cervical spine, 10% (n=3) in the thoracic spine, 33.3% (n=10) in the lumbar spine, and 6.7% (n=2) in the sacroiliac joint (SIJ). Most patients with cervical and lumbar hot spots had corresponding spinal symptoms, such as pain, tenderness, or stiffness, documented in their medical records, whereas thoracic complaints were less commonly noted.

conclusionThe study outlines the prevalence of spinal hot spots in various spinal regions among a general orthopedic population undergoing bone scans for non-spinal complaints. A strong correlation was found between spinal complaints and high uptake in the cervical spine and lower back. These findings highlight the added value of comprehensive bone scan evaluations in clinical practice.

Indexed as

bone scintigraphynuclear imagingspinal diagnosticspinal hot spotsspinal imaging

Identifiers

PMID39981452
PMCPMC11841691

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.