Injury
Volume 39, Issue 12 , Pages 1444-1452, December 2008

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) in fresh clavicle fractures: A multi-centre double blind randomised controlled trial

  • Pieter H.W. Lubbert

      Affiliations

    • Department of Surgery, University Medical Centre Utrecht, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author at: Department of Surgery, Martini Hospital Groningen, Postbus 30033, 9700 RM Groningen, The Netherlands. Tel.: +31 50 5245810; fax: +31 50 5245822.
    • ,
  • Rob H.H. van der Rijt

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiology, Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, PO Box 1350, 5602 ZA Eindhoven, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • Lidewij E. Hoorntje

      Affiliations

    • Department of Surgery, University Medical Centre Utrecht, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • Chris van der Werken

      Affiliations

    • Department of Surgery, University Medical Centre Utrecht, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands

Accepted 2 April 2008.

Summary 

Background

Several randomised trials have been published on the effect of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) on fracture healing in both distal radius and tibia fractures. Most studies showed a positive effect on time to clinical and radiological healing. We hypothesised that LIPUS has a beneficial effect on the healing of fresh clavicle fractures as well and studied its effect in non-operatively treated shaft fractures.

Methods

We conducted a randomised double blind, placebo-controlled multi-centre trial in 101 adult patients with a non-operatively treated fresh clavicle shaft fracture. Of these patients, 49 used a placebo transducer and 52 patients had an active transducer with ultrasound stimulation (Exogen 2000®). Data were analysed on intention to treat basis. Baseline parameters of both groups were not significantly different.

Results

There were no differences in time to subjective clinical fracture healing, resumption of daily activities, sports or professional work, Visual Analogue pain Scores (VAS) and use of pain medication.

Conclusion

Our findings did not confirm that LIPUS accelerates clinical healing time of fresh clavicle shaft fractures.

Level of evidence

Level 1 evidence that low-intensity pulsed ultrasound does not accelerate clinical fracture healing in non-operatively treated fresh midshaft clavicle fractures.

Keywords: Fresh fractures, Ultrasound stimulation, LIPUS, Fracture healing, Randomised

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PII: S0020-1383(08)00181-2

doi:10.1016/j.injury.2008.04.004

Injury
Volume 39, Issue 12 , Pages 1444-1452, December 2008

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