Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound accelerates healing in rat calcaneus tendon injuries.

STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of low-intensity therapeutic ultrasound on the murine calcaneus tendon healing process.

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic ultrasound promotes formation and maturation of scar tissue.

METHODS: Calcaneus tendon tenotomy and tenorrhaphy was performed on 28 Wistar rats. After the procedure, the animals were randomly divided into 2 groups. The animals in the experimental group received a 5-minute ultrasound application, once a day, at a frequency of 1 MHz, a spatial average temporal average intensity of 0.1 W/cm2, and a spatial average intensity of 0.52 W/cm2 at a 16-Hz frequency pulse mode (duty cycle, 20%). Data for the injured side were normalized in relation to the data from the contralateral healthy calcaneus tendon (relative values). The animals in the control group received sham treatment. After a 28-day treatment period, the animals were sacrificed and their tendons surgically removed and subjected to mechanical stress testing. The parameters analyzed were cross-sectional area (mm2), ultimate load (N), tensile strength (MPa), and energy absorption (mJ).

RESULTS: A significant difference between groups was found for the relative values of ultimate load and tensile strength. The mean ± SD ultimate load of the control group was -3.5% ± 32.2% compared to 33.3% ± 26.8% for the experimental group (P = .005). The mean tensile strength of the control group was -47.7% ± 19.5% compared to -28.1% ± 24.1% for the experimental group (P = .019). No significant difference was found in cross-sectional area and energy absorption.

CONCLUSION: Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound produced by a conventional therapeutic ultrasound unit can positively influence the calcaneus tendon healing process in rats.