ACCELERATION OF TIBIA AND DISTAL RADIUS FRACTURE-HEALING IN PATIENTS WHO SMOKE

A low intensity ultrasound device was investigated as an accelerator o f cortical and cancellous bone fracture healing in smokers and nonsmok ers, Statistically significant reductions in healing time for smokers and nonsmokers were observed for tibial and distal radius fractures tr eated with an active ultrasound device compared with a placebo control device, The healing time for a tibial fracture was reduced 41% in smo kers and 26% in nonsmokers with the active ultrasound device, Similarl y, distal radius fracture healing time was reduced by 51% in smokers a nd 34% in nonsmokers with the active device. Treatment with the active ultrasound device also substantially reduced the incidence of tibial delayed unions in smokers and nonsmokers, The use of the active ultras ound device accelerates cortical and cancellous bone fracture healing, substantially mitigates the delayed healing effects of smoking, speed s the return to normal activity, and reduces the longterm complication of delayed union.