The efficacy and safety of combination therapy of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound stimulation in the treatment of unstable both radius and ulna fractures in children

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Ota, Tsuyoshi^a | Itoh, Soichiro^{b; *} | Yamashita, Kimihiro^b

Affiliations: [a] Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Saiseikai Kawaguchi General Hospital, 5-11-5 Nishikawaguchi, Kawaguchi City, Saitama 332-8558, Japan. E-mail: itoso.gene@gmail.com | [b] Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 2-3-10 Kanda-Surugadai, Chiyoda, Tokyo 101-0062, Japan. E-mail: yama-k.bcr@tmd.ac.jp

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Soichiro Itoh, Department of Inorganic Materials, Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 2-3-10 Kanda-Surugadai, Chiyoda, Tokyo 101-0062, Japan. Tel.: +81 3 5280 8016; Fax: +81 3 5280 8125; E-mail: itoso.gene@gmail.com.

Abstract: Background:There are few reports of Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) treatment for fresh forearm fractures in children. Objectives:LIPUS stimulation was applied after surgery of forearm fractures in children and the efficacy and safety of combination therapy of LIPUS treatment were evaluated. Patients and methods:Children with both radius and ulna fracture, twenty-five diaphysis (mid-R&U) and nineteen metaphysis (dist-R&U) fractures, were treated with intramedullary nailing followed by cast and splint mobilization. Thirteen patients in the mid-R&U fracture group and eight patients in the dist-R&U fracture group were combined with LIPUS stimulation postoperatively. Results:Periosteal callus appeared significantly earlier after surgery in the LIPUS-treated groups than in the groups without LIPUS treatment. The duration of external fixation was significantly shorter in the dist-R&U fracture group treated with LIPUS stimulation compared with that in the mid-R&U fracture group without LIPUS treatment. Furthermore, the time span needed for bone union in the groups with LIPUS stimulation was significantly shorter than in the groups without LIPUS stimulation. Conclusions:It is suggested that LIPUS stimulation can lead to a reduction of treatment periods of unstable forearm fractures safely after operation even in children.

Keywords: Both radius and ulna fracture, metaphysis, diaphysis, children, low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS)

DOI: 10.3233/BME-171697

Journal: Bio-Medical Materials and Engineering, vol. 28, no. 5, pp. 545-553, 2017