The effect of variable waveform low-intensity pulsed ultrasound in a fourth metacarpal osteotomy gap model in horses.

This study aimed to analyze how variable waveform low-intensity ultrasound influences the healing process of a fracture gap in the fourth metacarpal bone in horses. The results showed that this type of ultrasound did not significantly impact bone formation in the studied fracture gap model.

Methodology

• The researchers conducted a randomized, controlled, and blinded trial involving eight healthy adult horses. Each horse had a 1-centimeter osteotomy – a surgical operation where a bone is cut to shorten, lengthen, or change its alignment – in the fourth metacarpal bone.
• One randomly chosen fracture gap in each horse received daily 40-minute sessions of ultrasound treatment. The control group, on the other hand, was treated with an inactive transducer – a device that converts one form of energy to another – as a placebo.
• Researchers used weekly radiographs – photographic images produced by radiation – in order to assess the progress of the healing process.
• Fluorescent markers were administered on the 14th, 28th, 56th, and 70th days to help track the healing process.

Results

• At the end of the study on the 84th day, the bones were extracted and their properties analyzed using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) – a form of X-ray that measures the density and structure of the bones at peripheral sites – and histology – the study of the microscopic structure of tissues.
• After the detailed evaluation, the researchers found that there were no significant differences between the treated and control bones according to the radiographic, pQCT, or histologic parameters. This data suggested that the variable waveform low-intensity ultrasound did not have any significant impact on the bone formation in the horse’s fracture gap model.

Conclusion

• The findings of this research indicated that low-intensity ultrasound did not stimulate bone formation in the tested osteotomy gap model in horses. Therefore, the use of this type of ultrasound may not be beneficial in the healing process of similar bone fractures in horses.