Fracture Nonunions and Delayed Unions Treated With Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound Therapy: A Clinical Series
Author: Kavyansh Bhan1, Ronak Patel1, Kamrul Hasan1, Mahesh Pimplé1, Sucheta Sharma2, Varsha Nandwana3, Mhafrin Basta4
Affiliation:
1 Trauma & Orthopaedics, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, GBR.
2 Orthopaedic Surgery, Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences, Jalandhar, IND.
3 Orthopaedic Surgery, Lady Hardinge Medical College, Delhi, IND.
4 Dermatology, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, GBR.
Conference/Journal: Cureus
Date published: 2021 Aug 10
Other:
Volume ID: 13 , Issue ID: 8 , Pages: e17067 , Special Notes: doi: 10.7759/cureus.17067. , Word Count: 185
The incidence of nonunion of fractures has been steadily rising owing to improved life expectancy following severe injuries along with rising cases of polytrauma. Once a nonunion is established, the chances of spontaneous healing are deemed to be quite low. Fracture nonunion continues to be a challenge in clinical practice with nonunions having a considerable impact on patient's quality of life causing both functional and psychosocial disability. Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound (LIPUS) therapy is being projected as a viable and non-interventional alternative to surgical management of nonunions and delayed unions. LIPUS therapy is being widely recommended as a standalone treatment option for the treatment of established nonunions and delayed unions as it is believed to promote healing in all phases of fracture healing viz., inflammatory, intramembranous ossification, chondrogenesis, endochondral ossification and remodelling. In the current scenario of varying results and unclear clinical role of LIPUS therapy, we present a prospective case series of fracture nonunions and delayed unions treated with LIPUS therapy at a large District General Hospital.
Keywords: delayed union; lipus therapy; nonunions; radiological and clinical fracture healing; ultrasound therapy.
PMID: 34522545 PMCID: PMC8428199 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.17067
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