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Abstract
Objectives: We performed radiologic, histologic, and scintigraphic studies to evaluate the effect of extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) on the healing of experimental rat tibial fractures.\nMethods: Wistar albino rats aged 2.5 to 4 months (mean age 3 months) and with a mean weight of 200 g (range 180 to 220 g) were assigned to four- and six-week groups. A transverse fracture in the right tibial diaphyses was induced manually followed by intramedullary fixation with the use of a Kirschner wire. Each of the two (study and control) four-week and six-week groups consisted of 14 rats and five rats, respectively. Following fracture induction and fixation, four- and six-week study groups were administered ESWL at 200 shock waves (14 kV) to the fracture line on day 0, 5, 9, 14, and 19. The rats were radiologically examined in the forth and sixth weeks. The first two groups of rats were sacrificed at the end of four weeks for histologic examination. The remaining two groups underwent scintigraphic examination for osteoblastic activity at the end of six weeks and were then sacrificed for histologic examination.\nResults: Radiological scores were significantly higher in the study rats in the forth and sixth weeks (p=0.002 and p=0.011, respectively); similarly, significantly higher extent of bone healing was observed in the ESWT groups (p=0.027 and p=0.001, respectively). The 10-minute static scintigraphic counting resulted in higher values in the shock wave administered rats (p=0.039).\nConclusion: Radiologic, histologic, and scintigraphic results of our study showed that ESWT treatment increased the rate of clinical bone healing.
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