Pulsed Ultrasounds reduce pain and disability and increase the rib fracture (RF) healing

Pulsed ultrasound (PUS) treatment is capable of improving rib fracture outcomes, significantly accelerates bone callus healing, and decreases pain, time off because of both physical activity and convalescence period, and the pain medication intake. It is a new non invasive, effective, safe and low-cost therapy for treatment of patients with stable rib fractures according to a study in 'Pain Medicine'.

Rib fractures (RFs) have become a crucial health issue throughout the world and is a common cause of trauma disabilities. Their occurrence varies from 7% to 38.7%, and their morbidity and mortality are connected to a number of fractures, ranging from 5.8% for a single fracture to 34% for 7 or more fractures. Norberto Santana-Rodrıguez et al. executed this study to investigate whether PUS application could have advantageous for humans. This was based on their earlier experimental model.

A total of 51 patients were enrolled in this prospective, double-blinded, randomized, controlled trial. Forty severn patients were randomized into the control group (N = 23) or PUS group (N = 24) and 4 were excluded. The PUS group recieved 1 Mhz, 0.5 W/cm²  for 1 min/cm²  whereas the control group recieved PUS procedure without emission. The pain level, bone callus healing rate, physical and work activity, pain medication intake, and adverse events were blindly examined at the baseline and 1, 3, and 6 months.

The results of the study demonstrated no significant differences at the baseline between the groups. PUS treatment significantly decreased pain by 1st, 3rd and 6th month with significantly accelerated callus healing by 1st and 3rd month. An increase in return to physical activity was observed by 3rd month and work activity by 1st month. Both the groups considerably reduced pain medication intake by 1st and 3rd month. There were no related adverse events in the PUS group.