Qin Ling, Fok Pikkwan, Lu Hongbin, Shi Sanqiang, Leng Yang, Leung Kwoksui
Musculo-Skeletal Research Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT.
Clin Biomech (Bristol). 2006 May;21(4):387-94. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2005.11.008. Epub 2006 Jan 19.
This study evaluated the low intensity pulsed ultrasound enhancement on matrix hardness of the healing tissues at the bone-tendon junction.
Sixteen 18 week-old mature female rabbits were used. An established transverse partial patellectomy was performed at the distal one-third of the patella. Animals were then divided according to their body weight into ultrasound group (n = 8) with daily treatment of low intensity pulsed ultrasound and control group (n = 8) without ultrasound treatment. Animals were euthanized at week 8 and 16 postoperatively to evaluate the radiographic new bone formation and the Vickers hardness of the matrix of the healing tissues at the bone-tendon junction.
(1) Comparing with the control group, the anterior-posterior area of the new bone in the ultrasound treated group was found on average to be 3.0 and 3.1 times greater at week 8 and 16, respectively (P < 0.01). (2) The Vickers hardness of the new bone in ultrasound group was 11.3% (P < 0.05) significantly lower at week 8 but 20.0% (P < 0.05) significantly higher at week 16 as compared with that of the control group. (3) The Vickers hardness of the newly regenerated fibrocartilage zone, healing tendon, and cartilaginous metaplasia in ultrasound group was found higher than the control group at both week 8 and 16, but the difference was significant at week 16 only, being 44.1% (P < 0.05), 20.1% (P < 0.01), and 46.4% (P < 0.01) higher, respectively.
The preliminary findings suggested for the first time that low intensity pulsed ultrasound treatment resulted in the enhancement of the matrix hardness in new bone, fibrocartilage, cartilaginous metaplasia, and healing tendon at the healing bone-tendon junction. These findings can be extrapolated into clinical practice, i.e. the more rapid healing induced by low intensity pulsed ultrasound, the earlier mobilization of the affected joint. The beneficial effects on prevention of the musculoskeletal deterioration resulting from the prolonged immobilization would be therefore expected.
本研究评估了低强度脉冲超声对骨-肌腱结合处愈合组织基质硬度的增强作用。
使用16只18周龄的成年雌性兔子。在髌骨远端三分之一处进行既定的横向部分髌骨切除术。然后根据体重将动物分为超声组（n = 8），每天接受低强度脉冲超声治疗，以及对照组（n = 8），不接受超声治疗。在术后第8周和第16周对动物实施安乐死，以评估骨-肌腱结合处愈合组织基质的放射学新骨形成和维氏硬度。
（1）与对照组相比，超声治疗组新骨的前后面积在第8周和第16周时平均分别大3.0倍和3.1倍（P < 0.01）。（2）与对照组相比，超声组新骨的维氏硬度在第8周时显著降低11.3%（P < 0.05），但在第16周时显著升高20.0%（P < 0.05）。（3）在第8周和第16周时，超声组新再生纤维软骨区、愈合肌腱和软骨化生的维氏硬度均高于对照组，但仅在第16周时差异显著，分别高出44.1%（P < 0.05）、20.1%（P < 0.01）和46.4%（P < 0.01）。
初步研究结果首次表明，低强度脉冲超声治疗可增强骨-肌腱结合处愈合时新骨、纤维软骨、软骨化生和愈合肌腱的基质硬度。这些研究结果可推广至临床实践，即低强度脉冲超声诱导的愈合越快，受影响关节的活动就越早。因此，有望对预防因长期固定导致的肌肉骨骼退化产生有益效果。
