Pages 181-186, Language: EnglishSchortinghuis, Jurjen / Ruben, Jan L. / Raghoebar, Gerry M. / Stegenga, Boudewijn / de Bont, Lambert G. M.Purpose: To investigate whether ultrasound can stimulate osteoconduction in the mandible, an attempt was made to stimulate the osteoconductive process with low-intensity pulsed ultrasound in rats.
Materials and Methods: In 64 rats, a 5.0-mm diameter circular mandibular defect was made in the ramus and, subsequently, covered on both sides with collagen membranes. Two groups were studied, an ultrasound treatment group and a placebo treatment group. At 2 and 4 weeks, the remaining defect area was measured using microradiographs, and the amount of osteoconduction was expressed as the percentage of defect closure.
Results: At 2 and 4 weeks, there was no significant difference in the percentage of defect closure between the groups.
Discussion: An explanation may be that ultrasound does not exert an effect in an area where wound healing is already expected to be at an optimal level.
Conclusion: There was no evidence that low-intensity pulsed ultrasound stimulates osteoconduction in a bone defect in the rat mandible that is covered by a collagen membrane.