Failed treatment of long bone nonunions with low intensity pulsed ultrasound.

INTRODUCTION: The use of low intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) in the treatment of nonunions is still controversial. The present study is concerned with whether this procedure has a clinical use and which cofactors influence its therapeutic results. METHODS: In this prospective, single institution, observational study, data from October 2010 to October 2013 from 61 nonunions in 60 patients treated with EXOGEN(®) LIPUS therapy were analysed. The average age was 45.4 ± 9.81 (18-63) years. Treatment was primarily done on long bones of the lower extremity (75.4 %). All 61 nonunions were examined after treatment, and the rate of healing as well as functional and subjective results were evaluated. Based on clinical and radiological findings, patients were divided into two groups: G1-successful treatment; and G2-unsuccessful treatment. Groups were compared to one another to identify possible factors influencing treatment. RESULTS: Twenty (32.8 %) patients showed bone consolidation with an average time of healing of 5.3 (2-7) months. In patients without successful treatment, who underwent revision surgery instead, full weight bearing took on average 3.7 months longer, and they were able to return to work 6.8 months later. Most of the treated patients (70.5 %) reported no improvement in pain. In G2, 12 (29.3 %) patients suffered in their previous history from osteitis; in G1 there were only two patients (10 %) (p = 0.012). There were further significant differences in the age of the fracture, the type of osteosynthesis, the gap size, as well as the NUSS score. CONCLUSION: Despite patients being chosen strictly according to EXOGEN(®) indications, only a small number of patients with nonunions who underwent LIPUS therapy experienced successful treatment (32.8 %). Overall, its use resulted in a clear delay in the time of treatment, so that according to our results, the use of LIPUS should be seen critically in long bone nonunions and use should be made on a case-by-case basis.

Low intensity pulsed ultrasound in the treatment of long bone nonunions: Evaluation of cytokine expression as a tool for objectifying nonunion therapy.

BACKGROUND: Nonunion is one of the most common complications in bone healing. After several clinical studies, the effect of low intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) in the treatment of nonunions remains unclear because of the difficulty in evaluating its effect on bone healing. In former studies, the analysis of serum cytokine expression patterns over time has proven to be an objective method for showing the bone healing process and evaluating nonunion therapies. This study evaluates LIPUS as a treatment option for patients with nonunions based on the analysis of serum cytokine expression. METHODS: In this prospective, single institution study, venous blood samples from 23 patients were taken from October 2012 to October 2013 before starting LIPUS therapy and at the end of week 1 and 2 and after 1, 2, and 3 months. Patients attended clinical and radiological follow-up examinations at the same intervals. After treating all patients according to the LIPUS therapy protocol, we divided them into two groups: Group 1 consisted of patients with healing at the nonunion site, and Group 2 consisted of patients with failed nonunion therapy. We measured transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and basic fibroblastic growth factor (bFGF) at all time-points. RESULTS: The TGF-ß1 serum concentration increased from the pre-treatment value to 1 week within the unsuccessful group. Otherwise, no significant differences between groups in measured cytokines during LIPUS therapy could be detected. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that LIPUS does not lead to a significant increase in cytokine levels in patients with nonunions. It is likely that "successful" treatment can be attributed to spontaneous healing. Our results suggest that LIPUS is not a proper treatment for long bone nonunions.