Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound has been demonstrated to promote fracture healing.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound on platelet derived growth factor and insulin-like growth factor 1 expression during tibial fracture healing in rats.
METHODS: Rat models of closed fracture in unilateral tibia were established and then low-intensity pulsed ultrasound treatment was daily performed.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: At 14 and 21 days after model preparation, bone calcus amount and thickness in rat tibial fracture models treated with low-intensity pulsed ultrasound were significantly increased (P < 0.05) and at 7 and 14 days after model preparation, platelet derived growth factor and insulin-like growth factor 1 expression in bone callus was significantly increased (P  < 0.05). These findings suggest that low-intensity pulsed ultrasound increases platelet derived growth factor and insulin-like growth factor 1 expression during tibial fracture healing in rats, accelerate chondrocytes maturation and endochondral ossification, and thereby promote fracture healing.