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

Double-blind, prospective, placebo-controlled clinical trials demonstrate that 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 stronger and stiffer callus formation and in acceleration of the endochondral ossification process. Extensive clinical evidence demonstrates that ultrasound represents a safe, noninvasive method of accelerating the healing of fresh fractures of the tibia, 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.