title: Effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound on autogenous bone graft healing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pulsed ultrasonic waves have been shown to accelerate bone healing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound on bone healing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two femurs from 16 skeletally mature male Wistar albino rats were used. Two defects were produced in each femur with a 3-mm-diameter trephine bur and then autogenous cortical grafts were placed in 1 defect. The animals in the experiment group received a daily 20-minute ultrasound treatment for 15 days. All animals were killed on the 18th postoperative day.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry values and biochemical markers in the experimental side were significantly higher than those in the control side at the early period of bone healing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound treatment accelerates bone healing both in bone defects and in bone defects filled with cortical autogenous block graft.
authors.affiliation: Research Assistant Doctor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey. Electronic address: yavuzfindik32@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Yavuz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fındık
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey.
authors.forename: Timuçin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baykul
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D005269:Femur / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*