Twelve years have elapsed since the first report about the use of lithotripsy in the treatment of non-unions was published. The efficacy and fast effect have won them in Europe an extensive place in the management of non-unions. We here report a multicentric retrospective study on the treatment of bone pseudoarthroses by means of extracorporeal shock waves (ESW). Since 1995 a total amount of 764 non-unions have been treated and followed up. A mean of 1.8 surgical interventions had already been performed before ESW. The mean age of the pseudoarthroses was 13.8 months. An electromagnetic coil lithotriptor Modulith, SLK by Storz Medical AG was used. The protocol consisted of one cycle of 2 sittings for small bone pseudoarthroses and of 4 sittings for long bone pseudoarthroses.Nor general or local anesthesia were required. Bony healing (bridging of all four cortices in the X-rays or by tomography) was achieved in the 68 percent of patients. Femur and tibia non-unions showed a higher success rate (80 percent). Failures were more often found in atrophic and infected pseudoarthroses. No serious complications or adverse effects were 0bserved.A recent meta-analysis of 61 papers supports the use of orthotripsy for fracture non-unions. Results let us to consider shock waves a non-invasive method with a good success rate a great compliance of patient and a rate of complications lower than surgery.
Multicentric retrospective study on extracorporeal shock wave therapy effectiveness in the treatment of non-unions
Galasso O;
2004-01-01
Abstract
Twelve years have elapsed since the first report about the use of lithotripsy in the treatment of non-unions was published. The efficacy and fast effect have won them in Europe an extensive place in the management of non-unions. We here report a multicentric retrospective study on the treatment of bone pseudoarthroses by means of extracorporeal shock waves (ESW). Since 1995 a total amount of 764 non-unions have been treated and followed up. A mean of 1.8 surgical interventions had already been performed before ESW. The mean age of the pseudoarthroses was 13.8 months. An electromagnetic coil lithotriptor Modulith, SLK by Storz Medical AG was used. The protocol consisted of one cycle of 2 sittings for small bone pseudoarthroses and of 4 sittings for long bone pseudoarthroses.Nor general or local anesthesia were required. Bony healing (bridging of all four cortices in the X-rays or by tomography) was achieved in the 68 percent of patients. Femur and tibia non-unions showed a higher success rate (80 percent). Failures were more often found in atrophic and infected pseudoarthroses. No serious complications or adverse effects were 0bserved.A recent meta-analysis of 61 papers supports the use of orthotripsy for fracture non-unions. Results let us to consider shock waves a non-invasive method with a good success rate a great compliance of patient and a rate of complications lower than surgery.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
