Effects of continuous or intermittent low-magnitude high-frequency vibration on fracture healing in sheep

Vibration therapy has been shown to improve fracture healing. In this study, we investigated the effects of continuous or different intermittent vibration regimens on fracture healing in sheep models on the basis of radiographs, mechanical, and biochemical testing.

The 63 right-hind metatarsals from 63 sheep (12-month-old) were osteotomized; followed by surgical fixation with a steel plate. Two weeks after the surgery, the sheep with right-hind metatarsal fractures were randomly divided into seven groups (n=9/group): control (no vibration treated), continuous vibration (CV), one, three, five, seven and 14-day intermittent vibration (named IV-1, -3, -5, -7, and -14, respectively) groups, which represented a cycle of the successive n-day vibration and successive n-day break. Vibration stimulation (F=35 Hz, a=0.25 g) lasted 15 minutes each treatment. After eight weeks with/without vibration treatment, the sheep were euthanized with intravenous anesthetic. The callus formation, mechanical properties, and biochemical compositions of fracture metatarsals were analyzed.

In CV and IV-7 groups, X-ray images showed an increased callus volume around the fracture area. The bone elastic modulus and the concentrations of Ca, P, and Ca/P ratio of the area at 15 and 25 mm away from the fracture centerline were higher in CV and IV-7 groups compared with the other groups.

Our results demonstrate that both CV and IV-7 vibration patterns showed better improvement of fracture healing.