Jason W Busse1, Mohit Bhandari. 1. Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biiostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada. j.busse@utoronto.ca
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To explore current beliefs among senior physiotherapy (PT) students and orthopedic surgeons on the clinical utility of therapeutic ultrasound for assisting fracture healing. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: University. PARTICIPANTS: Orthopedic surgeons, senior orthopedic surgery residents, and PT students in their final 6 months of study. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. Main outcome measures Percentage of respondents reporting specific perceptions on (1) the role of therapeutic ultrasound in fracture healing, (2) clinical use of therapeutic ultrasound for fracture healing, (3) rationale for not using therapeutic ultrasound for healing fractures, and (4) what constitutes a clinically significant difference in fracture healing time. Between-group comparisons were conducted for survey responses. RESULTS: The response rate was 20 of 22 (90.9%) orthopedic surgeons, 5 of 5 (100%) senior orthopedic residents, and 34 of 50 (68.0%) senior PT students. The majority of senior PT students (58.8%) and orthopedic residents and surgeons (60.0%) surveyed reported the belief that therapeutic ultrasound may help in assisting fracture healing in some cases. However, the majority of respondents do not use this modality (60.0% of surgeons, 88.2% of Senior PT students), with most surgeons (32.0%) citing lack of evidence and most senior PT students (58.8%) indicating lack of availability as the predominant barrier. Thirty-two percent of surgeons felt that ultrasound was contraindicated and harmful to healing fractures, or that it was of no use, and 20.5% of PT students reported the belief that ultrasound was contraindicated and was, or may be, harmful to healing bone. Most orthopedic residents and surgeons (52.0%) reported that a reduction in fracture healing time of 4 weeks would be clinically significant versus senior PT students, the majority of whom (64.7%) indicated that a reduction of 2 weeks would be clinically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Some surgeons and PT students believed that therapeutic ultrasound is contraindicated and harmful to healing bone; however, most believed that therapeutic ultrasound may help in assisting fracture healing, in at least some cases. Current usage of this modality is rare, primarily due to the perceived lack of evidence and lack of availability. Large randomized trials are needed to define further the role of ultrasound in fracture healing.
OBJECTIVE: To explore current beliefs among senior physiotherapy (PT) students and orthopedic surgeons on the clinical utility of therapeutic ultrasound for assisting fracture healing. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: University. PARTICIPANTS: Orthopedic surgeons, senior orthopedic surgery residents, and PT students in their final 6 months of study. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. Main outcome measures Percentage of respondents reporting specific perceptions on (1) the role of therapeutic ultrasound in fracture healing, (2) clinical use of therapeutic ultrasound for fracture healing, (3) rationale for not using therapeutic ultrasound for healing fractures, and (4) what constitutes a clinically significant difference in fracture healing time. Between-group comparisons were conducted for survey responses. RESULTS: The response rate was 20 of 22 (90.9%) orthopedic surgeons, 5 of 5 (100%) senior orthopedic residents, and 34 of 50 (68.0%) senior PT students. The majority of senior PT students (58.8%) and orthopedic residents and surgeons (60.0%) surveyed reported the belief that therapeutic ultrasound may help in assisting fracture healing in some cases. However, the majority of respondents do not use this modality (60.0% of surgeons, 88.2% of Senior PT students), with most surgeons (32.0%) citing lack of evidence and most senior PT students (58.8%) indicating lack of availability as the predominant barrier. Thirty-two percent of surgeons felt that ultrasound was contraindicated and harmful to healing fractures, or that it was of no use, and 20.5% of PT students reported the belief that ultrasound was contraindicated and was, or may be, harmful to healing bone. Most orthopedic residents and surgeons (52.0%) reported that a reduction in fracture healing time of 4 weeks would be clinically significant versus senior PT students, the majority of whom (64.7%) indicated that a reduction of 2 weeks would be clinically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Some surgeons and PT students believed that therapeutic ultrasound is contraindicated and harmful to healing bone; however, most believed that therapeutic ultrasound may help in assisting fracture healing, in at least some cases. Current usage of this modality is rare, primarily due to the perceived lack of evidence and lack of availability. Large randomized trials are needed to define further the role of ultrasound in fracture healing.
Authors: Wouber Herickson de Brito Vieira; Kardec Alecxandro Aguiar; Kimberly Moreira da Silva; Pablo Miranda Canela; Flávio Santos da Silva; Bento João Abreu Journal: Crit Ultrasound J Date: 2012-05-28
Authors: Bridget Sinnott; Cara Ray; Frances Weaver; Beverly Gonzalez; Elizabeth Chu; Sarah Premji; Mattie Raiford; Rachel Elam; Scott Miskevics; Stephen Parada; Laura Carbone Journal: JBMR Plus Date: 2022-01-05
Authors: Jason W Busse; Mohit Bhandari; Thomas A Einhorn; James D Heckman; Kwok-Sui Leung; Emil Schemitsch; Paul Tornetta; Stephen D Walter; Gordon H Guyatt Journal: Trials Date: 2014-06-04 Impact factor: 2.279