Ultrasonographic evaluation of union in long bones fractures

Introduction: To follow fracture healing, radiography is commonly used, but it is not sensitive to the early stages of this healing process when nonossified callus is formed. Hence, radiography can lag behind the physiological events of bone healing by some weeks. Although the use of ultrasound for fracture diagnosis has been reported previously, mainly in children, the clinical use of ultrasound to follow fracture healing has rarely been commented on. The goal of the current study was to test the efficiency and efficacy of ultrasound as an alternative method for follow-up of fracture healing. Material and Methods: During a one-year period, 12 patients - six with proximal fibula fracture and six with proximal metatarsal fractures - were followed by ultrasonographic examination in parallel with the routine radiographs. Results: The ultrasound examinations revealed callus formation after one month, with the early signs of healing after ten days. Early callus was first seen on radiographs after a month. Conclusion: Ultrasound was found to be a good modality to follow up fracture healing in long bones. This modality can reduce the amount of radiation received by the patients in the follow-up of fractures, and may shorten the immobility period and hence the recovery time of returning to normal function.