BACKGROUND: Nonunion remains a major complication after skeletal trauma. In the last decade, extracorporeal shock wave therapy has become a common tool for the treatment of nonunions. To date, no prospective, randomized trial has been conducted to show the efficacy of this form of treatment. METHODS: This study was performed to determine the value of extracorporeal shock wave therapy for nonunions. Previous published results in the literature and our own clinical results were analyzed and related to the natural history of bony union. RESULTS: No study has proven that extracorporeal shock wave therapy improves bone healing. Clinical studies reporting the acceleration of union after application of shock waves instead seem to misinterpret the natural history of bony union. CONCLUSION: No evidence supports the treatment of pseudarthroses with extracorporeal shock waves. A randomized, prospective, clinical trial with a control group has to be performed before a final decision can be made regarding this indication for extracorporeal shock wave therapy.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Nonunion remains a major complication after skeletal trauma. In the last decade, extracorporeal shock wave therapy has become a common tool for the treatment of nonunions. To date, no prospective, randomized trial has been conducted to show the efficacy of this form of treatment. METHODS: This study was performed to determine the value of extracorporeal shock wave therapy for nonunions. Previous published results in the literature and our own clinical results were analyzed and related to the natural history of bony union. RESULTS: No study has proven that extracorporeal shock wave therapy improves bone healing. Clinical studies reporting the acceleration of union after application of shock waves instead seem to misinterpret the natural history of bony union. CONCLUSION: No evidence supports the treatment of pseudarthroses with extracorporeal shock waves. A randomized, prospective, clinical trial with a control group has to be performed before a final decision can be made regarding this indication for extracorporeal shock wave therapy.
Authors: Eric Alexander Lewallen; Scott M Riester; Carolina A Bonin; Hilal Maradit Kremers; Amel Dudakovic; Sanjeev Kakar; Robert C Cohen; Jennifer J Westendorf; David G Lewallen; Andre J van Wijnen Journal: Tissue Eng Part B Rev Date: 2014-12-18 Impact factor: 6.389
Authors: Sanjit R Konda; Connor P Littlefield; Kurtis D Carlock; Abhishek Ganta; Philipp Leucht; Kenneth A Egol Journal: Arch Orthop Trauma Surg Date: 2021-01-08 Impact factor: 3.067
Authors: Paul A Butterworth; Tom P Walsh; Yvonne D Pennisi; Anna D Chesne; Christoph Schmitz; Susan A Nancarrow Journal: J Foot Ankle Res Date: 2015-02-05 Impact factor: 2.303
Authors: Christoph Wölfl; Laura Schuster; Bernd Höner; Sarah Englert; Roman Klein; Christoph Hirche; Matthias Münzberg; Paul Alfred Grützner; Ulrich Kneser; Leila Harhaus Journal: GMS Interdiscip Plast Reconstr Surg DGPW Date: 2017-12-18