A clearly observable cold fracture line of an early occult hip fracture on bone scintigraphy.

Although a true fracture is commonly associated with increased radionuclide uptake on bone scintigraphy, it is also possible for an area with no increased uptake (a cold line) to indicate fracture, as demonstrated in this case study. Detection of an occult acute hip fracture through recognition of a cold fracture line is important because of the associated therapeutic, economic, and medicolegal implications.