The use of low-intensity ultrasound to accelerate the healing of fractures

Double-blind, prospective, placebo-controlled clinical trials demonstrate t hat healing times of fresh fractures of the radius and tibia are reduced by up to 40% with the use of low-intensity ultrasound. Animal studies indicate that low-intensity ultrasound exposure results in s tronger and stiffer callus formation and in acceleration of the endochondra l ossification process. Extensive clinical evidence demonstrates that ultrasound represents a safe, noninvasive method of accelerating the healing of fresh fractures of the t ibia, the distal aspect of the radius, the scaphoid, and the metatarsals. Clinical studies indicate that ultrasound reduces the confounding effect of smoking and patient age on the fracture-healing process. Ultrasound requires a brief, twenty-minute, daily at-home treatment regimen and has no known contraindications. The effectiveness of low-intensity ultrasound has also been demonstrated in the clinical treatment of delayed unions and nonunions.