SynthesisBMJ (Clinical research ed.)2009
Low intensity pulsed ultrasonography for fractures: systematic review of randomised controlled trials.
Synthesis in BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 2009. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 40 papers, 8 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
40 citing papers in PubMed, 8 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Ultrasound and shockwave therapy for acute fractures in adults.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2023Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Therapeutic ultrasound for venous leg ulcers.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2017Pooled it
- Low intensity pulsed ultrasound for bone healing: systematic review of randomized controlled trials.BMJ (Clinical research ed.) · 2017Pooled it
- Conservative interventions for treating middle third clavicle fractures in adolescents and adults.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2016Pooled it
- Efficacy of Electrical Stimulators for Bone Healing: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Sham-Controlled Trials.Scientific reports · 2016Pooled it
- Ultrasound and shockwave therapy for acute fractures in adults.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2014Pooled it
- Low-intensity pulsed ultrasonography versus electrical stimulation for fracture healing: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Canadian journal of surgery. Journal canadien de chirurgie · 2014Pooled it
- Re-evaluation of low intensity pulsed ultrasound in treatment of tibial fractures (TRUST): randomized clinical trial.BMJ (Clinical research ed.) · 2016Trial
- Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound shortens the treatment time in tibial distraction osteogenesis.International orthopaedics · 2014Trial
- Trial to re-evaluate ultrasound in the treatment of tibial fractures (TRUST): a multicenter randomized pilot study.Trials · 2014Trial
- Trial
- Use of weekly, low dose, high frequency ultrasound for hard to heal venous leg ulcers: the VenUS III randomised controlled trial.BMJ (Clinical research ed.) · 2011Trial
- Limb Salvage After Chronic Nonunion Following Deformity Correction in Congenital Fibular Deficiency: A Cautionary 12-Year Follow-Up Case Highlighting Biological and Mechanical Reconstructive Challenges.Clinics and practice · 2026Article
- Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound in acute multiple rib fracture-a prospective analysis, randomized controlled trial and pilot study.Journal of thoracic disease · 2025Article
- Stimulation of fracture mineralization by salt-inducible kinase inhibitors.Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology · 2024Article
- Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound promotes periodontal regeneration in a beagle model of furcation involvement.Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology · 2022Article
- Evaluation and management of atypical femoral fractures: an update of current knowledge.European journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie · 2021Review
- Review on experimental study and clinical application of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound in inflammation.Quantitative imaging in medicine and surgery · 2021Review
- Stress fractures in uncommon location: Six case reports and review of the literature.World journal of clinical cases · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveTo determine the efficacy of low intensity pulsed ultrasonography for healing of fractures.
designSystematic review of randomised controlled trials. DATA SOURCES: Electronic literature search without language restrictions of CINAHL, Embase, Medline, HealthSTAR, and the Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials, from inception of the database to 10 September 2008. Review methods Eligible studies were randomised controlled trials that enrolled patients with any kind of fracture and randomly assigned them to low intensity pulsed ultrasonography or to a control group. Two reviewers independently agreed on eligibility; three reviewers independently assessed methodological quality and extracted outcome data. All outcomes were included and meta-analyses done when possible.
results13 randomised trials, of which five assessed outcomes of importance to patients, were included. Moderate quality evidence from one trial found no effect of low intensity pulsed ultrasonography on functional recovery from conservatively managed fresh clavicle fractures; whereas low quality evidence from three trials suggests benefit in non-operatively managed fresh fractures (faster radiographic healing time mean 36.9%, 95% confidence interval 25.6% to 46.0%). A single trial provided moderate quality evidence suggesting no effect of low intensity pulsed ultrasonography on return to function among non-operatively treated stress fractures. Three trials provided very low quality evidence for accelerated functional improvement after distraction osteogenesis. One trial provided low quality evidence for a benefit of low intensity pulsed ultrasonography in accelerating healing of established non-unions managed with bone graft. Four trials provided low quality evidence for acceleration of healing of operatively managed fresh fractures.
conclusionEvidence for the effect of low intensity pulsed ultrasonography on healing of fractures is moderate to very low in quality and provides conflicting results. Although overall results are promising, establishing the role of low intensity pulsed ultrasonography in the management of fractures requires large, blinded trials, directly addressing patient important outcomes such as return to function.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.