Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40616657›Full record

Trial reportInternational orthopaedics2025

Efficacy of focused low intensity pulsed ultrasound in reducing lower-extremity swelling and pain after total knee arthroplasty: a randomized study.

Long Zhao, Xiaoling Luo, Duan Wang, Jinwei Xie, Zongke Zhou

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in International orthopaedics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Long ZhaoWest China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Xiaoling LuoWest China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Duan WangWest China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Jinwei XieWest China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. rain_xjw@yeah.net.
Zongke ZhouWest China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. zhouzongke@scu.edu.cn.

Funding

the National Natural Science Foundations of China No. 82472402The Sichuan Science and Technology Program No. 2023YFQ0039
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeLow-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) is a non-invasive physiotherapy that is often utilized to treat swelling and pain caused by musculoskeletal trauma. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of LIPUS in reducing lower-extremity swelling and pain following total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

methodsThis randomized, controlled study evaluated 116 patients undergoing primary TKA, randomly assigning them to either an LIPUS group receiving active LIPUS therapy (0.8 MHz, 1.35 W) or a control group receiving sham treatment. The LIPUS intervention was administered to the operated knee for 25-minute sessions, three times daily for three consecutive days, beginning four hours postoperatively. The primary study outcome measured lower extremity swelling during the first 14 postoperative days, while secondary outcomes included knee pain (assessed by visual analogue scale ranging from 0 to 10 points), Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score, range of knee motion (ROM), serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), myoglobin, and complications.

resultsThe LIPUS (n = 55) and control (n = 56) groups showed similar baseline characteristics. LIPUS treatment significantly improved clinical outcomes compared to sham treatment, reducing calf swelling by 2.37-2.74%, thigh swelling by 2.76-4.81%, and patellar swelling by 2.30-3.28% (all p < 0.001). Patients receiving LIPUS also reported less walking pain (1.16-2.48 point reduction, p < 0.001) and showed lower inflammatory markers (CRP reduction of 2.53-13.85 mg/L, p = 0.047; IL-6 reduction of 3.64-17.27 pg/mL, p = 0.041). However, the treatment did not significantly affect resting pain, HSS scores, ROM, serum myoglobin levels, or complication rates.

conclusionThis study found that short-term LIPUS use markedly decreased lower-extremity swelling and walking pain post-TKA, with no major safety concerns. However, future studies are needed to determine the optimal protocol and long-term safety of LIPUS in TKA patients.

Indexed as

Arthroplasty, Replacement, KneeEdemaPostoperative PainUltrasonic TherapyAgedC-Reactive ProteinFemaleHumansKnee JointLower ExtremityMaleMiddle AgedPain MeasurementRange of Motion, ArticularTreatment OutcomeC-Reactive ProteinLow-intensity pulsed ultrasoundSwelling and painTotal knee arthroplasty

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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.