Abstract |
We present the case of a 75-year-old woman with haemochromatosis who developed a 5-year-long right ulnar non-union after a shortening osteotomy to correct a malunited Colles' fracture. Standard surgical treatment for ulnar non-unions was attempted on 19 March 2008 and again on 20 April 2009, but the non-union persisted on 8 May 2012, as confirmed by CT scan. Vascular bone grafting and refixation was then considered, but the patient declined this extensive operation, instead choosing to try non-invasive low-intensity pulsed ultrasound treatment with an Exogen device. Just 4 months later, complete union as confirmed by CT scan was achieved. This is the first case demonstrating the efficacy of ultrasound treatment for long-standing non-unions resistant to surgery in patients with haemochromatosis, a disorder where iron deposition can provide suboptimal circumstances for bone healing. Our finding suggests that low-intensity pulsed ultrasound devices could be used as a first-line treatment for stable non-unions instead of revision surgery.
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Authors | Sebastian Daniel Povlsen, Bo Povlsen |
Journal | BMJ case reports
(BMJ Case Rep)
Vol. 2015
(Nov 03 2015)
ISSN: 1757-790X [Electronic] England |
PMID | 26531737
(Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)
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Copyright | 2015 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. |
Topics |
- Aged
- Chronic Disease
- Female
- Fractures, Ununited
(etiology, therapy)
- Hemochromatosis
(complications)
- Humans
- Ulna Fractures
(complications, surgery)
- Ultrasonic Therapy
- Ultrasonic Waves
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