Background: Low-intensity physiotherapeutic ultrasound has been used in physical therapy clinics; however, there remain some scientific issues regarding the bone-healing process. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of low-intensity physiotherapeutic ultrasound on the initial stage of bone healing in rats. Methods: Twenty-two male adult rats were assessed quantitatively and qualitatively using radiographic, biochemical, and histological analyses. Numerical simulations were also performed. Fractures in animals in the ultrasound group (n = 11) were treated with low-intensity ultrasound (pulsed mode, duty cycle 20 %) for 10 min daily at an intensity of 40 mW/cm2 SATA (1.0 MHz) for 10 days. Fractures in animals in the control group (n = 11) were not treated. Results: Alkaline phosphatase levels were non-significantly higher in the ultrasound group than in the control group in the time intervals considered (t(13) = 0.440; 95 % confidence interval (CI) -13.79 to 20.82; p = 0.67). Between-group serum calcium levels were also not significantly different (t(13) = -0.842; 95 % CI -0.48 to 0.21; p = 0.42). Finally, there were no significant differences in radiological scores between the two groups (U = 118; 95 % CI -1.99 to 1.99; p = 0.72). However, the diameter of the newly formed bone tissue was greater and more evident in the ultrasound group. Conclusions: Thirteen days after fracture, there was no significant between-group differences in bone-healing processes, although the increased alkaline phosphatase levels and diameter of new bone tissue need to be further investigated. ©
CITATION STYLE
Fontes-Pereira, A. J., Amorim, M., Catelani, F., Matusin, D. P., Rosa, P., Guimarães, D. M. D. M., … Pereira, W. C. de A. (2016). The influence of low-intensity physiotherapeutic ultrasound on the initial stage of bone healing in rats: An experimental and simulation study. Journal of Therapeutic Ultrasound, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40349-016-0068-5
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