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A Treatment Protocol for Achilles Tendinopathy with Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy

A Treatment Protocol for Achilles Tendinopathy with Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy

Published on: August 2, 2024

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy: current evidence.

Boris A Zelle¹, Hans Gollwitzer, Michael Zlowodzki

¹Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. zelleba@upmc.edu

Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma

|February 26, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) shows promise in healing bone fractures and nonunions, with a 76% union rate observed in a systematic review. Further research is needed to confirm these findings for fracture healing.

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Area of Science:

Orthopedics
Biomedical Engineering
Regenerative Medicine

Background:

Fracture healing complications, including delayed unions and nonunions, present significant clinical challenges.
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is a non-invasive modality with potential regenerative effects.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the basic science of ESWT.
To systematically review the literature on ESWT for treating fractures and delayed unions/nonunions.

Main Methods:

Systematic literature search of PubMed-MEDLINE, Cochrane databases, and meeting abstracts (1966-2008).
Inclusion of clinical outcome studies with at least 10 patients, excluding nonunions post-osteotomies or arthrodeses.
Extraction of data on sample size, evidence level, union rates, and complications.

Main Results:

Analysis of 10 studies involving 924 patients treated with ESWT for delayed union/nonunion.
Overall union rate of 76% (95% CI: 73%-79%) across included studies.
Significantly higher union rates observed in hypertrophic nonunions compared to atrophic nonunions.

Conclusions:

Level 4 evidence suggests ESWT may stimulate bone healing in delayed unions and nonunions.
The findings indicate ESWT as a potential therapeutic option for fracture healing.
Further high-quality investigations are warranted to solidify the role of ESWT in fracture treatment.