Ultrasound May Be Used To Heal Bone Fractures
Fractures are among the most common injuries that someone might sustain, and recently, it was announced that an ultrasound bone healing system might be able to expedite the recovery process. The traditional treatment of fractures involves an immobilizing cast and a rest period while bones heal over the course of about six weeks. If someone has been diagnosed with a displaced fracture, he or she might also require surgical correction of the injury prior to this cast. This can elongate the recovery period over several months. This time spent recovering might require someone to miss time from work or school.
Now, it appears that ultrasound therapy might be able to heal even bone fractures. This reflects a novel application of a battle-tested technology that has been used in the medical field in different ways. It will be interesting to watch ultrasound technology be applied to broken bones as well.
How Does Ultrasound Work?
In the past, ultrasound has been used mainly for diagnostic purposes in the field of medical imaging. An ultrasound machine uses a probe to emit sound waves through an intended medium. Sound travels at different speeds through solid, liquid, and gas media. The ultrasound machine uses these speed differences to generate an image on the screen which a doctor can interpret.
Therefore, ultrasound machines have been used to monitor pregnancies, diagnose abscesses, and even look for tumors. One of the major advantages of ultrasound is that it uses no radiation (unlike an x-ray machine or a CT scan). In addition, it can be used with an individual who has metal inside his or her body (unlike an MRI scan). Therefore, due to the limited possibility of side effects, it has been rising in popularity. Now, ultrasound might even have therapeutic applications in addition to its diagnostic uses.
Ultrasound Used to Heal Bone Fractures
A company called EXOGEN has been developing an ultrasound bone healing system. It has already been tested in displaced fractures of the skull and spine. It has also been shown to speed the recovery process in certain fractures as well. This machine works by using low-intensity pulsed ultrasound technology, often abbreviated LIPUS. These waves activate a biological healing response down at the molecular level.
This technology has been clinically tested and has shown an expedited recovery process in multiple peer-reviewed academic studies. One of the biggest advantages of this technology is that there are currently no known contraindications to its use. If this device can shorten the amount of time that someone needs to wear a cast, it would represent a medical breakthrough.
Planning for the Future
EXOGEN is still in the process of evaluating the safety of its device in specific patient groups. Those who are pregnant, breastfeeding, have a pacemaker, or have developed a fracture due to cancer should watch the development of this device carefully. EXOGEN needs to evaluate the safety of its device in these specific populations. Regardless, the news of this development is exciting and provides hope to the countless people who suffer bone fractures every year.
Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer. Recently, it was announced that ultrasound might prove effective in healing bone fractures. Those who have sustained a bone fracture due to the negligence of another person or entity should reach out to me at (800) 404-5400 and/or (916) 921-6400 to receive free, friendly legal guidance and advice.
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