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PEDro systematic review update
Ultrasound may promote fracture healing but this does not necessarily accelerate return of function
  1. Louella O'Herlihy1,
  2. Mark R Elkins2
  1. 1Poole Hospital, Poole, Dorset, UK
  2. 2Centre for Evidence-Based Physiotherapy, The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, Australia
  1. Correspondence to Dr Mark R Elkins, Centre for Evidence-Based Physiotherapy, The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, 2050, Australia; mark.elkins{at}sydney.edu.au

https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2013-092229

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    Background

    Bone fractures are common, affecting about six million people in North America annually1 with associated pain, loss of function and socioeconomic expenditure. Although spontaneous union of uncomplicated fractures is typically described as occurring within 6–8 weeks, the duration of fracture healing varies by the site and type of fracture.2–4 Bone mineral density, smoking and underlying disease can further affect the healing time.5–7 While most fractures unite spontaneously, 5–10% of long-bone fractures having delayed healing or do not unite, although again the characteristics of the fracture and the patient can influence this.8 ,9 Delayed and non-union exacerbate the morbidity, dependence and lost productivity associated with fractures.

    Regardless of the predicted healing time for individual patients, stimulation of bone formation at the fracture site may reduce the healing time and the risk of non-union. Furthermore, it could reduce the total duration for which distraction osteogenesis needs to be performed.10 Many interventions have been proposed as potential stimulators of bone formation including medication, growth hormone, electric currents, magnetic fields, shockwave therapy and ultrasound.11–14 Ultrasound might induce fracture healing by applying mechanical forces at the fracture site.15

    Aim

    This systematic review was performed to determine the effect of low-intensity-pulsed ultrasound for healing of fractures.

    Searches and inclusion criteria

    Cochrane CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and HealthSTAR were searched using terms for fracture healing, callus, remodelling …

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors LO selected the systematic review. MRE wrote the first draft of the manuscript. LO and MRE contributed to the interpretation of the data and revision of drafts, approved the final manuscript and are guarantors.

    • Competing interests None.

    • Provenance and peer review Commissioned; internally peer reviewed.