Facial plastic surgery : FPS
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Standard treatment of mandibular nonunion includes debridement and application of maxillomandibular or rigid internal fixation techniques, with adjunctive bone grafting when necessary. Frequently described in the orthopaedic literature, low-intensity pulsed ultrasound therapy (LIPUS) is a noninvasive treatment modality used to accelerate healing of fresh fractures and established nonunions. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review to determine the extent of LIPUS study in the treatment of mandibular nonunions to identify whether LIPUS represents an effective nonsurgical alternative or adjunct for nonunion management. ⋯ This report reviews published literature on mandibular nonunions, and the evidence of LIPUS use in long bone nonunions. There are no known studies presenting LIPUS treatment of mandible fracture nonunions. However, on the basis of published orthopaedic data, LIPUS therapy could be considered as an adjunct or alternative to traditional surgical management of select mandible fracture nonunions.