Effect of vibration massage therapy after extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy in patients with lower caliceal stones

To determine whether vibration massage influences the results of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) in patients with lower caliceal stones.

One hundred three patients with lower caliceal stones were entered in the study. Patients were divided into two groups that received either SWL alone (Group A, N = 52) or with vibration massage (Group B, N = 51). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in stone size, duration of follow-up, or patient age. The complication, stone-free, and stone recurrence rates of the groups were compared.

There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in the number of shockwaves, number of SWL sessions, or shockwave energy. The renal colic rate was higher in Group B than in Group A (P = 0.03). The stone-free rates in Group A and Group B were 60% and 80%, respectively (P = 0.003). The stone recurrence rate was higher in Group A than in Group B (P = 0.0006).

This retrospective study demonstrates that SWL with vibration massage appears to have a beneficial effect on the passage of fragments in patients with lower caliceal stones.