Does ultrasound stimulate osteoconduction? A placebo-controlled single-blind study using collagen membranes in the rat mandible

Purpose: To investigate whether ultrasound can stimulate osteoconduction in the mandible, an attempt was made to stimulate the osteoconductive process with low-intensity pulsed ultrasound in rats. Materials and Methods: In 64 rats, a 5.0-mm diameter circular mandibular defect was made in the ramus and, subsequently, covered on both sides with collagen membranes. Two groups were studied, an ultrasound treatment group and a placebo treatment group. At 2 and 4 weeks, the remaining defect area was measured using microradiographs, and the amount of osteoconduction was expressed as the percentage of defect closure. Results: At 2 and 4 weeks, there was no significant difference in the percentage of defect closure between the groups. Discussion: An explanation may be that ultrasound does not exert an effect in an area where wound healing is already expected to be at an optimal level. Conclusion: There was no evidence that low-intensity pulsed ultrasound stimulates osteoconduction in a bone defect in the rat mandible that is covered by a collagen membrane.