Effects of Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound on Healing of Mandibular Fractures: An Experimental Study in Rabbits
Purpose
Pulsed ultrasonic waves have been shown to accelerate fracture healing of the long bones. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPU) on healing of mandibular fractures.
Materials and Methods
Thirty skeletally mature male New Zealand rabbits were used. Animals underwent unilateral mandibular osteotomy. The bone segments were repositioned and fixed with miniplates and miniscrews. Half of the animals received daily ultrasound treatment, 20 min/day, for 20 days. Ultrasound signals consisted of a 1.5-MHz pressure wave administered in pulses of 200 μsec with an average temporal and spatial intensity of 30 mW/cm2. Animals in the control group received sham application. All of the animals were killed on postoperative day 22. Three-point bending test, digital radiodensitometric analysis, and histologic and histomorphometric examinations were performed on the harvested hemimandibles. The data were statistically analyzed.
Results
Biomechanical tests revealed significant improvement in the mechanical properties of the healing bone in the LIPU-treated group. This was supported by histologic and radiologic findings.
Conclusions
Results of this study suggest that LIPU improves the bone healing of mandibular fractures in rabbits.
⁎Research Assistant, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Çukurova University, Adana, Turkey
†Associate Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Çukurova University, Adana, Turkey
‡Research Assistant, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Çukurova University, Adana, Turkey
§Assistant Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Çukurova University, Adana, Turkey
∥Research Assistant, Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Çukurova University, Adana, Turkey
¶Professor, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Çukurova University, Adana, Turkey
#Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Çukurova University, Adana, Turkey
⁎⁎Research Assistant, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Çukurova University, Adana, Turkey
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr Erdoǧan: Cukurova Universitesi Dis Hekimligi Fakultesi, ADCH Cerrahisi AD, 01330, Balcali, Adana, Turkey
This study was supported and funded by the Çukurova University Academic Research Projects Unit (project No. DHF2003D1).
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