Effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy and radial pressure wave therapy on elasticity and microstructure of equine cortical bone.

The research paper investigated the impacts of extracorporeal shock wave therapy and radial pressure wave therapy on the flexibility and microstructure of horse’s cortical bone, using a specially prepared sample. The authors found neither therapy significantly altered the bone properties at the energy and pulse values used in the study.

Objective and Methodology

• The goal of this study was to examine how extracorporeal shock wave therapy and radial pressure wave therapy affect the elasticity and microstructure of equine cortical bone.
• The researchers selected 16 bone specimens from the proximodorsal cortex of an equine’s third metacarpal or metatarsal bone for their investigations.
• Initial elasticity was figured out via the density and unidirectional ultrasound speed of each sample, following the mathematical relationship E = pC2, where E stands for elasticity, p is the density, and C is the velocity of the ultrasound transmission.

Testing process

• Two different treatment methods were used on the bone samples. Eight bone samples were subjected to 500 pulses of extracorporeal shock wave therapy measured at 0.15 mJ/mm2, and the remaining eight underwent radial pressure wave therapy at 0.16 mJ/mm2 for the same number of pulses.
• After the therapy sessions, the ultrasound transmission velocity was measured once again in each sample. This process was repeated over four sessions, for a total of 2,000 pulses and five velocity measurements.
• The density of each specimen was measured after the therapy, and average post-treatment elasticity was calculated.

Histologic examination

• All of the bone specimens underwent nondecalcified sectioning and were subsequently stained with toluidine blue or basic fuchsin for histological evaluation.

Findings and Conclusion

• The results showed no significant change in either the ultrasound transmission velocity or the elasticity after the treatments.
• The final elasticity measurements were not different from those taken at the beginning of the research for both extracorporeal shock wave therapy and radial pressure wave therapy.
• The histologic evaluation did not indicate any changes attributable to either of the treatment modalities.
• Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that at the energy and pulse values used in this study, extracorporeal shock wave therapy and radial pressure wave therapy do not impact the material properties of equine bone.