The effects of ultrasound treatment on flexor tendon healing in the chicken limb.

We report the effects of early and late ultrasound treatment protocols on healing of surgically lacerated zone 2 flexor tendons in a chicken model. Ultrasound was administered directly using a coupling gel. Treatment was shown to increase range of movement, to advance scar maturation and to decrease the amount of inflammatory infiltrate around the repair site. No adverse effects on tensile strength were noted in either group. Early (starting 7 days post-operatively) administration was more effective than late (starting 42 days post-operatively) administration in achieving these effects. These results suggest that ultrasound therapy may be of benefit in the early healing process of flexor tendon lacerations.