Handchirurgie, Mikrochirurgie, plastische Chirurgie : Organ der Deutschsprachigen Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Handchirurgie : Organ der Deutschsprachigen Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Mikrochirurgie der Peripheren Nerven und Gefässe : Organ der Vereinigung der Deutschen Plastischen Chirurgen
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Handchir Mikrochir Plast Chir · Mar 2000
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial[Does low intensity, pulsed ultrasound speed healing of scaphoid fractures?].
Since pulsed low-intensity ultrasound (frequency: 1.5 MHz, pulsed by 1 kHz, signal burst width: 200 microseconds, intensity: 30 mW/cm2) has been proven to stimulate fracture healing both clinically and experimentally, our question was whether this therapy also accelerates healing of fresh stable scaphoid fractures. Addressing this question, we did the following prospective randomized clinical trial. Regarding the results of former clinical fresh fracture studies by Heckman and Kristiansen, we postulated that low intensity ultrasound accelerates healing by about 30%. ⋯ Trabecular bridging six weeks after injury showed 81.2% +/- 10.4% healed in the ultrasound-stimulated fractures versus 54.6% +/- 29% in the control (p < 0.05). Our study results confirm those of Heckman and Kristiansen and show a similar acceleration of bone healing. Low intensity ultrasound is successful in accelerating the healing of fresh scaphoid fractures.