The Effect of Unfocused Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy on Bone Defect Healing in Diabetics

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the unfocused extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on healing of mandible ramus defects in diabetic rats.

Forty male Wistar albino rats were used in the experiment. All animals were randomly divided into 2 main groups, nondiabetic and diabetic. Critical-sized defects were created on ramus in all rats. ESWT was performed to half of rats in each group at 3 sessions after surgery. Animals were euthanized at either fourth or eighth week. Stereological and radiologic examination was performed. Data were statistically analyzed by one-way variance analysis and Tukey post-hoc test.

Hounsfield Unit values were higher in DE group than DE group in both 8-week and 4-week groups (P > 0.05). In both 4-week and 8-week diabetic groups, higher value was observed when compared with nondiabetic groups (P > 0.05). According to stereological results, in 4-week groups, there was a higher new bone, connective tissue, and neovascularization volume in DE group than DE group and in DE group than DE group. These results are similar for the 8-week groups except NV volume.

It was found that ESWT application has no positive effect on the healing of critical-sized bone defects in nondiabetics whereas promising effects in diabetics were observed.