Case Study: Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham localizes femoral implant infection with Siemens Healthineers SPECT/CT

Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham localizes femoral infection in 3 hours with Siemens Healthineers

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham faced a challenge in precisely localizing a suspected prosthetic infection in a patient with extensive femoral stabilization hardware. Conventional imaging was complicated by metal artifacts and the need to differentiate infection from normal physiological activity. Siemens Healthineers provided a solution using a Symbia Pro.specta SPECT/CT system with radiolabeled leukocyte imaging and iterative metal artifact reduction (iMAR) for the examination.

The solution utilized SPECT/CT with iMAR to generate high-quality, artifact-free images that accurately localized intense leukocyte accumulation to specific fixation screws and a draining sinus tract, confirming extensive infection throughout the implant. Siemens Healthineers' technology enabled the precise assessment of hardware displacement and the extent of infective exudate, directly guiding the clinical recommendation for complete prosthesis removal and revision. This precise diagnostic insight was critical for determining the appropriate surgical management for the patient.

Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham