Six month nonunion tibial diaphysis osteotomy treated with conventional pulsed therapeutic ultrasound: a case report

ABSTRACT

Background

a large tibial defect significantly increases the chances of nonunion fractures, changes in the quality of life, and pain. Tibial osteotomy with a large gap size is an unfavorable condition to complete healing.

Purpose

to describe the treatment of a complex case of a six-month nonunion tibial diaphysis osteotomy using conventional pulsed ultrasound therapy (cput).

Case description

a 46-year-old man, 1.65 m tall, weighing 63 kg, and homeless was diagnosed with a nonunion tibial diaphysis fracture and underwent osteotomy of the tibial diaphysis with an opening gap and external fixation with circular rings and thin wires (ilizarov). An interdisciplinaty approach including social work, nutrition, and physiotherapy including exercise reconditioning was initiated over a period of two years. After six months of nonunion following a tibial osteotomy, cput was used with a frequency of 1 mhz, duty cycle of 20%, spatially averaged temporally averaged (sata) intensity of 0.1 w/cm², frequency of 100 hz, 20 min of duration, for 2–3 times for 20 weeks.

Outcomes

there was an improvement in the amount of bone in the fracture gap with a total restoration of function, resolution of pain, and gait without crutches after 35 sessions of cput.

Conclusion

an interdisciplinary approach including mechanical stimulus from cput assisted in the healing process in a patient with chronic tibial osteotomy nonunion.

KEYWORDS:

• Ultrasound
• fracture healing
• nonunion
• fracture
• delayed fracture

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).