The efficacy and safety of combination therapy of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound stimulation in the treatment of unstable both radius and ulna fractures in children.

Author: Ota T1, Itoh S2, Yamashita K2
Affiliation:
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Saiseikai Kawaguchi General Hospital, 5-11-5 Nishikawaguchi, Kawaguchi City, Saitama 332-8558, Japan. E-mail: itoso.gene@gmail.com.
2Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 2-3-10 Kanda-Surugadai, Chiyoda, Tokyo 101-0062, Japan. E-mail: yama-k.bcr@tmd.ac.jp.
Conference/Journal: Biomed Mater Eng.
Date published: 2017
Other: Volume ID: 28 , Issue ID: 5 , Pages: 545-553 , Special Notes: doi: 10.3233/BME-171697. , Word Count: 216


BACKGROUND: There are few reports of Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) treatment for fresh forearm fractures in children.

OBJECTIVES: LIPUS stimulation was applied after surgery of forearm fractures in children and the efficacy and safety of combination therapy of LIPUS treatment were evaluated.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Children with both radius and ulna fracture, twenty-five diaphysis (mid-R&U) and nineteen metaphysis (dist-R&U) fractures, were treated with intramedullary nailing followed by cast and splint mobilization. Thirteen patients in the mid-R&U fracture group and eight patients in the dist-R&U fracture group were combined with LIPUS stimulation postoperatively.

RESULTS: Periosteal callus appeared significantly earlier after surgery in the LIPUS-treated groups than in the groups without LIPUS treatment. The duration of external fixation was significantly shorter in the dist-R&U fracture group treated with LIPUS stimulation compared with that in the mid-R&U fracture group without LIPUS treatment. Furthermore, the time span needed for bone union in the groups with LIPUS stimulation was significantly shorter than in the groups without LIPUS stimulation.

CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that LIPUS stimulation can lead to a reduction of treatment periods of unstable forearm fractures safely after operation even in children.

KEYWORDS: Both radius and ulna fracture; children; diaphysis; low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS); metaphysis

PMID: 28854496 DOI: 10.3233/BME-171697

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