Effect of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound on bone healing at osteotomy sites after forearm bone shortening.

PURPOSE: To test the hypothesis that low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) may accelerate healing at osteotomy sites after forearm bone shortening osteotomies. METHODS: In this prospective study, we enrolled 27 patients who underwent ulnar shortening osteotomy for ulnar impaction syndrome or radial shortening osteotomy for Kienböck disease. We randomized limbs to be treated with LIPUS (14 osteotomies, LIPUS group) or without LIPUS (13 osteotomies, control group). At 1 week postoperatively, patients in the LIPUS group received once-daily 20-minute LIPUS treatments that continued until at least 12 weeks postoperatively. At 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, and 24 weeks postoperatively, we assessed union of the osteotomy site to determine the time to union using 4 projections of x-rays. RESULTS: In this study, all osteotomies achieved complete union. The mean times to complete cortical union were 57 days in the LIPUS group and 76 days in the control group. Regarding endosteal union, the mean times were 121 days in the LIPUS group and 148 days in the control group. The LIPUS group had significantly reduced times for both types of union. CONCLUSIONS: Application of LIPUS shortened the time to cortical union by 27%, and to endosteal union by 18%. Our results indicate that LIPUS accelerated bone healing after we performed forearm bone shortening osteotomies. This may provide earlier return to activity and work for patients undergoing forearm osteotomies.