Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) of non-union or delayed union of fractures

Responsible for the project: Marisa Warmuth
Project team: Marisa Warmuth, Ines Schumacher
Duration: July 2012 - Aug 2012
Publication: Decision Support Document No. 62: https://eprints.aihta.at/975

Suggested by: KAGES
Language: German

Background:
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) was introduced for the first time in 1980 in the field of urology for non-invasive disintegration of concrements of the kidney and urinary tract. Since the early 1990s the spectrum of indications for ESWT has been continuously evolving. It has been employed for the treatment of various diseases in the field of orthopaedics (e.g.: tendinopathies, fractures), dermatology (e.g.: chronic wounds, fibromatoses), cardiology (coronary heart disease), etc..
In ESWT an acoustic wave with a characteristic progress in the course of time is generated, which follows one of three principles: the electrohydraulic, electromagnetic or piezoelectric principle. It is assumed that ESWT leads to improvement in pain and accelerates the healing process.

Aims of project:
The project aims at summarising the evidence of the efficacy and safety of ESWT in non-union or delayed union of fractures

Research objectives:
Is ESWT for the treatment of non-union or delayed union of fractures more effective and safe than standard treatment in terms of function, pain, quality of life, union rate, time to fracture union and morbidity?

Methods:
• Systematic literature search in databases (Cochrane, Embase, Medline, CRD) and web sites
• Unsystematic hand search
• Contacting of manufacturers

PICO-Fragestellung:
 

Time schedule/ milestones (in months):
• July 2012: project protocol, unsystematic/ systematic literature search, literature selection, drafting of report
• August 2012: drafting of report, internal/ external review, publication