Open AccessBlood Flow in the Scaphoid Is Improved by Focused Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy
Author(s) -
Sophie Schleußer,
Jungin Song,
Felix Stang,
Peter Mailaender,
Robert Kraemer,
Tobias Kisch
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
clinical orthopaedics and related research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.178
H-Index - 204
eISSN - 1528-1132
pISSN - 0009-921X
DOI - 10.1097/corr.0000000000000993
Subject(s) - medicine , extracorporeal shock wave therapy , extracorporeal , shock (circulatory) , orthopedic surgery , blood flow , surgery , radiology
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) has shown benefits in patients with nonunion or delayed bone healing, pseudarthrosis, and avascular necrosis of bone. Until now, these effects were explained by the release of growth factors, activation of cells, and microfractures occurring after ESWT. Microcirculation is an important factor in bone healing and may be compromised in fractured scaphoids because its blood supply comes from the distal end. Due to this perfusion pattern, the scaphoid bone is prone to nonunion after fracture. The ability of ESWT to enhance microcirculation parameters in soft tissue was of interest to determine if it improves microcirculation in the scaphoid.