Nuclear medicine scans are useful in a wide range of musculoskeletal complaints. Typically bone scans are performed in patients with bone and joint pain. Bone scans can be useful in determining the cause of symptoms in patients with;

Neck and low back pain

Foot and ankle pain

Painful joint replacements

Pain after orthopaedic surgery

Amongst many others

Bone scans are also used in determining whether there is spread to the bones in certain types of cancer.

White cell scans are another type of nuclear medicine scan that can determine if there is infection in a joint, and is particularly useful in patients who have had a joint replacement.