The Role of Low Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound Therapy in the Management of Acute Fractures: A Systematic Review

Background: The aim of this study was to review the evidence regarding the use of low intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) in the management of acute long bone fractures. Methods. Systematic review of Medline, Embase, and CINAHL databases. Further published studies were retrieved by hand searching bibliographies of relevant articles. Retrieved studies were limited to English-language studies published since 1956. Retrieved studies were excluded from review using the following criteria: case reports, exclusively pathologic fractures, treatment of therapeutic osteotomies and arthrodesis, initiation of ultrasound therapy after the first month following injury, no reporting of assessment of time to fracture healing, cellular studies, and nonclinical articles. Studies were reviewed independently by two reviewers using the CONSORT score. No statistical analysis was performed as the data from the studies were not suitable for pooled analysis. Results: Seven randomized controlled trials and two meta-analyses were retrieved using the search strategy. Conclusion: The literature supports the use of LIPUS in the treatment of acute fractures treated with plaster immobilization.