Role of Quantitative Bone Scanning in the Assessment of Bone Turnover in Patients With Charcot Foot

OBJECTIVE To assess the new quantitative bone scan parameters as markers of Charcot neuroosteoarthropathy (CNO) activity. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Forty-two patients with acute (n = 21) and nonacute (n = 21) CNO underwent quantitative bone scanning. Patients with acute CNO were followed for 3-12 months and bone scans were repeated after treatment. New quantitative parameters were assessed and compared with markers of bone turnover and with skin temperature difference (STD). RESULTS Significant correlations between quantitative bone scan parameters and bone turnover markers were observed (all P < 0.05). These parameters decreased after treatment of CNO, and its reduction to the baseline value correlated with differences of bone turnover markers and STD (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that bone scanning can be used not only for diagnosis of CNO but also for monitoring disease activity by quantitative bone scan parameters.