{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,20]],"date-time":"2026-04-20T21:45:12Z","timestamp":1776721512303,"version":"3.51.2"},"reference-count":0,"publisher":"Universa BV","issue":"1","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"abstract":"<jats:p>Although there have been improvements in surgical fixation techniques, the process of fracture healing continues to pose challenges, especially for patients with additional health issues. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) has been proposed as a non-invasive method to facilitate faster bone recovery; however, its effectiveness in clinical settings remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the impact of LIPUS on the healing of lower limb fractures. A double-blinded, prospective, randomised controlled trial was conducted in two hospitals in Gauteng, South Africa. The study was approved by the University of the Witwatersrand (M150236). Ninety-four individuals aged 18 years and older with lower limb fractures were consecutively recruited and randomly assigned to either the LIPUS or control group. The intervention group underwent 20-minute LIPUS sessions every alternate day for a duration of 20 days during their hospitalisation, followed by follow-up after discharge. Callus formation, cortical bridging, fracture gap, and overall radiographic healing were evaluated at 6, 12, and 18 weeks. An intention-to- treat analysis was performed to accommodate missing radiographs and loss to follow-up. No statistically significant differences were found between the intervention and control groups concerning callus formation, cortical bridging, fracture gap, or overall healing at any assessment time. A high rate of loss to follow-up and unavailability of radiographs diminished the analysis\u2019s power. LIPUS did not show a notable improvement in fracture healing when compared to standard care. Its clinical use may need to be reevaluated, especially in low\u2013 and middle-income countries, where cost-effectiveness is a crucial factor.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.52628\/92.1.12938","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,20]],"date-time":"2026-04-20T18:56:43Z","timestamp":1776711403000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Efficacy of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound in surgically managed lower limb fractures: a randomised controlled trial"],"prefix":"10.52628","volume":"92","author":[{"given":"N","family":"MAGIDA","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"H","family":"MYEZWA","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"W","family":"MUDZI","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"E","family":"MUSENGE","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"S. A.","family":"MOHAMED KHAN","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"M. A.","family":"GRAHAM","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"27062","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,9]]},"container-title":["Acta Orthopaedica Belgica"],"original-title":[],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,20]],"date-time":"2026-04-20T20:57:31Z","timestamp":1776718651000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.actaorthopaedica.be\/archive\/volume-92\/spring\/original-studies\/efficacy-of-low-intensity-pulsed-ultrasound-in-surgically-managed-lower-limb-fractures-rct\/"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,9]]},"references-count":0,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,20]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.52628\/92.1.12938","relation":{},"ISSN":["0001-6462"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0001-6462","type":"print"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,9]]},"article-number":"92.1.12938"}}