title: External adjuncts to enhance fracture healing: what is the role of ultrasound?
abstract: Current methods of fracture care use various adjuncts aimed at decreasing time to fracture union and improving fracture union rates. Among the most commonly used modalities, low-intensity pulsed ultrasound is emerging as a safe, cost-effective and reliable treatment for both fresh fractures and fracture nonunions. Both in vivo and in vitro basic science studies have helped to elucidate potential mechanisms of ultrasound action and a number of prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials exist demonstrating the clinical efficacy of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound. This article will review the evidence for the use of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound in fracture care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Kaufmann Medical Building, Suite 1010, 3471 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States. siskapa@upmc.edu
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Siska
authors.forename: Gary S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Gruen
authors.forename: Hans Christoph
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Pape
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D017102:Fracture Healing; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D010012:Osteogenesis; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*