International Orthopaedics
Publisher: Springer-Verlag GmbH
ISSN: 0341-2695 (Paper) 1432-5195 (Online)
DOI: 10.1007/s00264-004-0625-3
Issue:  Volume 29, Number 2
Date:  April 2005
Pages: 121 - 124

The effect of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound on callus maturation in tibial distraction osteogenesis

Hani El-Mowafi 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.

Click Here to View this article Online