The stimulation of bone formation in vitro by therapeutic ultrasound

• Published in: Ultrasound in medicine & biology Vol. 23; no. 8; pp. 1251 - 1258
• Main Authors: Reher, Peter, Elbeshir, El-Noor I., Harvey, Wilson, Meghji, Sajeda, Harris, Malcolm
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 1997; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Bone Development; Bone healing; Bone Matrix - metabolism; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins - biosynthesis; Collagen - biosynthesis; Collagen synthesis; Culture Techniques; Diseases of the osteoarticular system. Orthopedic treatment; Fracture healing; Medical sciences; Mice; Noncollagenous protein synthesis; Osteoradionecrosis; Protein synthesis; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); Space life sciences; Temperature; Therapeutic ultrasound; Ultrasonic Therapy; Collagen synthesis; Protein synthesis; Osteoradionecrosis; Therapeutic ultrasound; Fracture healing; Bone healing; Noncollagenous protein synthesis; Human; Treatment; Collagen; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Stimulation; Fracture; In vitro; Ultrasound; Osteogenesis
• ISSN: 0301-5629; 1879-291X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0301-5629(97)00031-8

A controlled study was performed to evaluate the effects of different ultrasound (US) intensities on 5-day-old mouse calvaria bone in tissue culture. A special technique to apply the US was developed, and the following parameters were measured: collagen and noncollagenous protein (NCP) synthesis (bone formation), and temperature change. It was found that ultrasound at 0.1 W/cm 2 (SATA), pulsed 1:4, 3 MHz, 5 min, significantly stimulates bone formation ( i.e., the synthesis of collagen and NCP) ( p < 0.001 and p < 0.01). However, pulsed ultrasound at higher doses (1.0–2.0 W/cm 2 (SATA), pulsed 1:4, 3 MHz, 5 min) significantly inhibited the synthesis of both collagen and NCP ( p < 0.05). The temperature measurements showed a maximum rise of 1.8°C [at 2.0 W/cm 2 (SATA)] and no detected rise at 0.1 W/cm 2 (SATA), suggesting that the effects in this study were primarily nonthermal. These results may reflect the healing effect of US on fractures and osteoradionecrosis and reinforces the use of low intensity US regimens [0.1 W/cm 2 (SATA)] in clinical practice.