Author: Medical Services Advisory Committee, MSACPublisher:
ISBN: 9780642820150
Category : Bones
Languages : en
Pages : 52
Book Description
This report summarises the efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of Exogen TM bone growth stimulator, a low-intensity ultrasound treatment (LIUS) for the acceleradon of bone healing, on the basis of the currently available evidence. The use of LIUS as a home-based therapy for tibial, distal radius and scaphoid fresh fractures and fracture non-union is considered in the context of the Australian healthcare setting. The intervention appears safe for use in adults on the basis of available evidence and clinical experience to date. However, LIUS should not be used prior to skeletal maturation. The use of LIUS in patients with pacemakers is contraindicated. On the basis of the evidence currently available, it is not possible to conclude that LIUS is consistently more efficacious than other treatments of fresh fractures. We identified only two high quality, randomised, placebo-controlled studies conducted in distal radius and tibial fractures, respectively. The results these studies are contradictory. With respect to the treatment of fractures exhibiting non-union, only poorly controlled patient registry or case series data are currently available. The cost-effectiveness of LIUS in each of the indications reviewed in the assessment does not compare favourably with a range of other common healthcare interventions. MSAC recommended that on the basis of the evidence available on low intensity ultrasound treatment for acceleration of bone fracture healing, public funding should not be supported for this procedure.
