Stimulation of Bone Healing with Physical Therapy Modalities by Patients with Delayed Callus

Bone healing may be slowed down or hampered by multiple aetiological factors. Approximately 5-10% have either delayed or impaired healing [1,2]. This understanding of fracture healing has made tremendous strides. To help with the understanding and management of fractures and fracture healing, is the most current concepts in the enhancement of fracture healing [3]. The most common causes of poor differentiation of fibroblasts [4] in osteoblasts in the remodeling phase of fracture repair may be the presence of infection and inflammatory process, poor immobilization, poor quality of bone mass, and lack of building elements minerals and vitamins, hormone deficiency for bone mase formation like in osteoporosis, insufficient circulation in the distal part of the lesion, untreated systemic osteoporosis, etc. [5,6].

Fracture healing involves a complex interplay between several anatomical, biomechanical, and biochemical processes. Skeletal repair, unlike many other tissues, may result in complete restoration of the biochemical and mechanical properties of the injured tissue. Skeletal tissue has a robust regenerative capacity, the healing process may fail, resulting in delayed healing, non-unions, and malunions [7]. In the Department of Physical Medicine, they come after surgery, either operating or conservative. Physical medicine in Eastern Europe uses physical modalities along with exercises in the process of rehabilitation of patients after a fracture [8-11], but the same is used in the western countries. Early rehabilitation is applied in patients treated with operative treatment and does not contain physical modalities. While those who are treated conservatively, they come for rehabilitation after extraction of gypsum or orthosis. [12].

Physical modalities that we use in bone healing stimulation are: interferential current [8], magnetic field [13], iontophoresis with Calcium chloride, polarization light and low-level laser therapy [14]. The challenge for the treatment is patients with slow bone healing, because there was no callus after their surgical treatment and immobilization, or after conventional treatment with physical therapy. The aim of our research is to represent treatment of slow bone healing after fracture deepens of etiology and condition of patient with physical therapy modalities and medicaments.

The 53 patients, of different ages divided into four groups by the method of physical treatment and etiology of slow bone remediation were taken for analysis. The patients were divided in four groups, by included criteria. Group 1-30 patients with fracture and circulatory disturbances, Group 2-20 patients, with fracture and postmenopausal osteoporosis. Group 3-2 patients, with fracture and no formation of callus after 1 year of injury, and after bone transplantation. Group 4-1 patient, fracture treated surgery and osteosyntesis and conventional physical therapy without stimulation of callus 6 month after surgery. The evaluation of treatment was scoring before and after 2 and 6 months of Physical therapy treatment with measurement of pain, swelling, skin color, range of motion, local osteoporosis by X-ray picture and fracture line signs. Every positive sign was 1 point. Physical therapy and medication by each group is showing in Table 1. The significance of treatment before and after two months, and between two and six months is tested with differences of proportion and p< 0.

Table 1:Physical therapy modalities and medication.

Dosage of physical therapy modalities:

1. Interferential current was applying in region of fracture, 21 days, 15min. daily,

2. Magnet field therapy, was apply in region of fracture, 21 days, 15min. daily

3. Low level laser therapy was applying tree times per week, in two area (in elbow region of lymphatic nodules, with screening 5 minutes, in superficial skin region of ulna fracture 5 minutes with screening and 5 minute by points) with ENRAF Nonius device, and power of 50 mw, and wave of 920nm.

Dosage of medicament therapy

1. Tab. Pentoxifylline of 400 mg, 2x1 daily, 1 month,

2. Spray Calcitonine od 200 IE, 1 daily, 6 weeks,

3. Tab. Calcium 800 mg, 1 daily, 2 months/six months depends of group.

4. Tab. Vit D 400IE, 1 daily, 2 months/six months depends of group.

5. Bisphosphonates, 1 per week, 6-12 months depends of group.

Laboratory examination before treatment:

1. Group 1/ transphysological examination, to excluded trombophlebitis,

2. Bone markers: osteocalcin, pylinix D, alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid hormone, testosterone level (group 3).

Other examinations

1. X-ray pictures for all groups,

2. CT and sonography for patient from group 4,

3. Bone Scintigraphy for patients from group 3.

Table 2:Evaluation of treatment by Group 1.

Table 3:Evaluation of treatment by Group 2.

Table 4:Evaluation of treatment by Group 3.

Table 5:Evaluation of treatment by Group 4.

Table 6:The total effect from treatment.

Condition of patients were analyzed before treatment, and after two and six months with clinical signs and x-ray, picture. By patient from group 4 was made and CT. Data from effect of treatment is showing in Table 2-6. The effect of treatment is significant before and after 2 months, but it is not significant between 2 and six months.

Normal healing of the skeleton depends on the localization of the fracture line, as well as the type of skeleton, and is usually treated by a traumatic protocol of 4-8 weeks, with immobilization, or 10 days after the surgical treatment begins with physical therapy and rehabilitation. We are following the principles of rehabilitation in our departments [15]. Methods to improve fracture healing are important ways to ensure rapid recovery of patients, which includes return to work, recreation and family life. The group 1 in our research, because of circulatory insufficiency, has local osteoporosis, as a secondary occurrence is a slow formation of the callus. We used medical therapy in consultation with a doctor transfusiologist and for the treatment of local osteoporosis according to our previous experience [16,17]. Medically-known support is one of the common treatments for the successful repair of fracture and local osteoporosis in more frequently consulted studies. Antiresorptive agents such as estrogen, raloxifene, bisphosphonates, and calcitonin inhibit both aspects of bone remodeling, but slow resorption is more than formation [18-20].

Although there are a number of animal studies to support the use of bisphosphonates in fracture healing, there are few studies in humans dedicated to this question, and we have used it by two male patients after transplantation of the chest in the region of slow fracture slowing [21]. We do not use medical support by patients without posttraumatic osteoporosis, usually in our department. Supplementation with calcium and vitamin D is a protocol for the treatment of osteoporosis, and we have used it in treatment to increase bone mass, local and general. Physical therapy modalities can increase bone tissue and some of them like interferential current we use in daily practice, special for patient with fracture treated on surgery with inside metal [22]. Magnet field therapy can help too, but to have a effect we need more than 60 days treatment and daily application of minimum 15-30 min. So, it is can be adjuvant but not only simple therapy [23,24].

There are many studies on experimental animals for stimulation of bone mass with low level laser therapy [25]. We use our own way, of application on two areas, on first proximal lymph nodules area and in surface of skin, with careful avoiding a penetration of laser near of internal fixation with metal. We have good formation of bone tissue, but instability of fixation was reason why it was destroyed later. This patient is going to second surgery fixation and after that he was OK. Patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis, find out that they have osteoporosis after a fracture. The treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis some time is included and follow up at our department [26]. Patients from group 2 were with wrist and arm fracture after fall. Medication in time and physical therapy prevent Sudeck bone Dystrophy. We have our own experience with treatment of sudeck bone Dystrophy, and our treatment is effective in back of function of hand or foot [27].

It is difficult to access the effect of some physical modality, especially because it cannot be use like a single therapy when we have more possibilities and it is not ethical. In all those patients medical gymnastic and work therapy were included too, by individual possibilities and co morbidity of them. In those complex therapy is difficult to make score to evaluate effect, specially when it has no high development Health System like ours. Bone markers and other investigations were made on modern standards. Evaluation with score is showing significant increase of compared before and after two months and compare between 2 months and 6 was not significant, but it proved how long this condition can be preserved.

Treatment of patient with slow bone healing must be complex and multidisciplinary. Before we make decision to included medical support, we must look for all etiology factors of that condition. Complexity therapy can give good results and support faster callus formation.

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