Ultrasound treatment for accelerating fracture healing of the distal radius. A control study

Abstract

PURPOSE:To investigate the accelerating effects of low-intensity pulse ultrasound stimulation (LIPUS) on the fracture healing of distal radius. METHODS:A total of 81 patients with distal radius fracture were randomly divided into two groups: the ultrasound treatment group and the control group. Patients in the ultrasound treatment group were immobilized in a below-elbow cast and received LIPUS treatment 15 min/day, while the control group were immobilized by a plaster support and cast. The patients were followed up every week and took X-ray films. The initial and healed X-ray films and the gray value of fracture site were analyzed by Photoshop software. The effect of reposition was evaluated based upon Steward recommended by Dienst, combining with Aro's measuring method. RESULTS:Clinical fracture healing time in ultrasound group was significantly shorter than that in the control group (32.04 ± 2.58d vs.40.75 ± 5.12d, p <0.01). In addition, the grey value changes of fracture sites of the ultrasound group were much higher than that of the control group. The reposition effects of fracture healing had no difference between the two groups (p >0.05). CONCLUSION:Low-intensity pulse ultrasound stimulation could accelerate fracture healing of the distal radius and promote local bone formation.

The effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound on fresh fracture

“…The LIPUS treatment was used for 20 minutes a day except in 2 trials. [ 48 , 58 ] In one of these trials, [ 48 ] the LIPUS treatment was used for 15 minutes every day, and in the other one, [ 58 ] the LIPUS treatment was used 2 times a day for 20 minutes each. All of the included studies demonstrated good compliance with the LIPUS treatment.…”

“…For the included trials, 5 trials [ 48 , 50 , 54 , 56 , 57 ] used the conservative treatment, and the conservative treatment for these 5 trials used plaster of Paris to maintain reduction. The plaster was not removed when LIPUS was used.…”

Low intensity pulsed ultrasound for bone healing: systematic review of randomized controlled trials

“…19 20 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Two trials, Handolin and colleagues32 33 and Emami and colleagues,29 30 provided two publications reporting on the same group of patients. There were no shared patients between the TRUST pilot26 and the definitive trial 16.…”

“…All but two trials applied LIPUS for 20 minutes every day, either for a fixed period or until radiographic healing. Otherwise, one trial applied LIPUS for 15 minutes a day,36 and another trial for five minutes every second day 39. Fifteen trials (60%) provided their control group with an inactive device that was indistinguishable from the active LIPUS.…”

Low‐Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound Accelerates Traumatic Vertebral Fracture Healing by Coupling Proliferation of Type H Microvessels

“…Nolte et al demonstrated that the healing rate for metatarsal fractures in patients treated with low‐intensity pulsed US was significantly faster than the healing rate for matched patients who were not treated. Liu et al found that low‐intensity pulsed US could promote fracture healing of the distal radius and promote local bone formation. Patel et al investigated the effects of low‐intensity pulsed US on the healing of mandibular fractures, and they found a significant improvement in radiographic density in the low‐intensity pulsed US treatment group compared to the control group.…”