What is the reported effect of low intensity pulsed ultrasound for 20 minutes on fracture healing?

What is the reported effect of low intensity pulsed ultrasound for 20 minutes on fracture healing?

• A. Increase healing of acute or nonunion fractures
• B. Worsen healing
• C. No effect on healing
• D. Increase fracture pain

Answer: (A)

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound delivers brief mechanical energy to the fracture site, which stimulates the biological processes that drive bone repair. When used for about 20 minutes daily, this energy promotes osteoblast activity, chondrogenesis, and new blood vessel formation, speeding callus formation and mineralization. Clinically, this approach has been reported to increase healing in both acute fractures and nonunions, making it a useful noninvasive option to enhance fracture repair. It does not primarily work by increasing pain, and the main demonstrated benefit is faster or greater healing rather than no effect.

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound delivers brief mechanical energy to the fracture site, which stimulates the biological processes that drive bone repair. When used for about 20 minutes daily, this energy promotes osteoblast activity, chondrogenesis, and new blood vessel formation, speeding callus formation and mineralization. Clinically, this approach has been reported to increase healing in both acute fractures and nonunions, making it a useful noninvasive option to enhance fracture repair. It does not primarily work by increasing pain, and the main demonstrated benefit is faster or greater healing rather than no effect.