Does ultrasound stimulate osteoconduction? A placebo-controlled single-blind study using collagen membranes in the rat mandible.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether ultrasound can stimulate osteoconduction in the mandible, an attempt was made to stimulate the osteoconductive process with low-intensity pulsed ultrasound in rats.


METHODS
In 64 rats, a 5.0-mm diameter circular mandibular defect was made in the ramus and, subsequently, covered on both sides with collagen membranes. Two groups were studied, an ultrasound treatment group and a placebo treatment group. At 2 and 4 weeks, the remaining defect area was measured using microradiographs, and the amount of osteoconduction was expressed as the percentage of defect closure.


RESULTS
At 2 and 4 weeks, there was no significant difference in the percentage of defect closure between the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
An explanation may be that ultrasound does not exert an effect in an area where wound healing is already expected to be at an optimal level.


CONCLUSIONS
There was no evidence that low-intensity pulsed ultrasound stimulates osteoconduction in a bone defect in the rat mandible that is covered by a collagen membrane.
Schortinghuis
Jurjen
J
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. j.schortinghuis@kchir.umcg.nl
Ruben
Jan L
JL
Raghoebar
Gerry M
GM
Stegenga
Boudewijn
B
de Bont
Lambert G M
LG
D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000818:Animals; D003094:Collagen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008336:Mandibular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008852:Microradiography; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D010919:Placebos; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013997:Time Factors; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010919:Placebos; D003094:Collagen