The diagnosis in Nuclear Medicine for Bone and Joint Disorder has improved a lot during the recent years. Nuclear medicine is a branch of medicine, which utilizes nuclear properties of matter for therapy and diagnosing. With the help of nuclear medicines, one can find out the abnormalities of the bones. Bone scan is a process that gives a complete picture of the metabolism in your bones. Bone scan is used for diagnosing subtle and hidden fractures of the bones like the stress fracture, which cannot be seen in a normal x-ray.

Bone scan is also used for the detection of fibrosis dysplasia, bone tumors, fractures, arthritis, bone pains, Paget's bone disease, joint replacements and infection of the joints. Bone scan is also used for determining if the cancer of the lungs, breast or prostate has spread into the bones.

Bone scan is a type of nuclear medicine that uses small amounts of radioactive materials called radionuclides. These nuclides get absorbed in some of the tissues and organs like the bones of the body. Once they get into the body, the radionuclides start emitting radiation called the gamma rays that can be detected by using a special camera. The nuclear medicine specialists can detect these images.

Procedure of nuclear medicine for bone and joint disorders is carried out mainly in two phases:

The first phase known as injection phase is where radionuclides are injected in the veins through the arms. This facilitates the radionuclides to circulate in the body and get absorbed into the bones. You will be required to drink excess water after the injection to remove the unabsorbed radioactive material from the body.

The second phase is the scanning phase, where you are made to lie on a table. A machine having an arm-like device supported by the gamma camera will pass through your body for recording the pattern of radionuclides absorption by the bones. This procedure is painless.

After the test is over, the radionuclides will not remain for a long time in your body. The radioactivity will be removed within a period of two days. There are no side effects associated with the test and there is no need to take any extra care after the test.

Nuclear medicine for bone and joint disorders is the perfect option for a fluent recovery.

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