The effect of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound on callus
maturation in tibial distraction osteogenesis
Hani El-Mowafi1
and Mona Mohsen1
| (1) |
Mansoura University
Hospital, 35516 Mansoura, Egypt |
Received: 12 October 2004 Accepted:
16 November 2004 Published
online: 1 February 2005
Abstract Callus
distraction is currently the most popular method of bone
lengthening. Prolonged treatment time is one of its major
problems. In this study, we investigated the effect of
low-intensity pulsed ultrasound on tibial distraction
osteogenesis. We managed 20 patients with tibial defects
ranging from 5 cm to 8 cm with distraction osteogenesis using
the Ilizarov external fixator. After the completion of
distraction, ten patients received daily 20 min of
low-intensity pulsed ultrasound stimulation (30 mW/cm2)
onto the bone lengthening site (group A) while rigid fixation
was maintained in the remaining patients (group B). All
patients were followed with weekly radiographs to determine
the formation of an external cortex and an intramedullary
canal, at which time the fixator was removed. The mean healing
index in group A was 30 (27–36) days/cm while it was 48
(42–75) days/cm in group B. In group B, one patient failed
to consolidate the regenerated bone. Low-intensity pulsed
ultrasound stimulation is highly effective in achieving
maturation of bone and reducing time of distraction
osteogenesis.
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