Diagnostic Accuracy of Triphasic Bone Scan and SPECT/CT in Foot and Ankle Osteoarthritis

This cross-sectional study aims to assess the diagnostic accuracy of triphasic bone scintigraphy and SPECT/CT in evaluating foot and ankle osteoarthritis, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as the reference standard, and to determine the affected joints.

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Key information

Conditions

Osteoarthritis Ankle Osteoarthritis Arthritis Foot Osteoarthritis Joint Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Rheumatic Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

About this study

Osteoarthritis of the foot and ankle is a significant cause of chronic pain and functional impairment. Conventional radiography has limited sensitivity for early changes, while magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered the reference standard for evaluating cartilage, bone marrow edema, and soft tissue structures.

Nuclear medicine techniques provide functional information about bone metabolism. Triphasic bone scan using technetium-99m methylene diphosphonate (99mTc-MDP) assesses perfusion, blood pool, and delayed skeletal uptake. However, planar imaging has limited spatial resolution and anatomical localization in the complex anatomy of the foot and ankle.

Hybrid SPECT/CT combines the functional data of SPECT with the precise anatomical localization of CT, improving diagnostic confidence and specificity. This study will evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of triphasic bone scan and SPECT/CT compared with MRI in patients with suspected foot and ankle osteoarthritis.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Age ≥ 18 years

Patients presenting with chronic foot and/or ankle pain suspected to be due to osteoarthritis
Clinical and/or radiographic suspicion of foot or ankle osteoarthritis

Exclusion criteria

Age < 18 years
Previous surgery or joint replacement of the affected foot or ankle
Bone tumors or metastatic bone disease
Active osteomyelitis or septic arthritis
Inflammatory arthropathies (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, gout)

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

Diagnostic accuracy of triphasic bone scan and SPECT/CT

Time frame: Baseline

Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of triphasic bone scintigraphy and SPECT/CT for detecting foot and ankle osteoarthritis, using MRI as the reference standard.

Secondary outcomes

Identification of affected joints

Time frame: Baseline

Determination of the specific joints affected by osteoarthritis in the foot and ankle based on SPECT/CT and MRI findings.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Amira A Ebraheem, resident

CONTACT

[email protected]

01212838177 ext. 01212838177

Mohamed A Mekawy, prof

CONTACT

[email protected]

01223196777 ext. 01223196777

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Assiut University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Diagnostic Accuracy of Triphasic Bone Scan and SPECT/CT for the Evaluation of Foot and Ankle Osteoarthritis Using MRI as Reference Standard

Important dates

Study start: 2026
Primary completion: 2027
Study completion: 2028
First posted: Aug 25, 2026
Registry last updated: Sep 2, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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Active, not recruiting