The value of ultrasonography in predicting the outcomes of simple long bone fractures treated by closed intramedullary nail fixation.

Purpose: Ultrasonography has been used increasingly in orthopaedic practice credited to its low cost, easy accessibility, non-invasiveness, reproducibility, and safety from radiation. The purpose of this study was to test the validity and efficacy of ultrasonography as an adjunct in the assessment of fracture healing in long bones treated with intramedullary interlocking devices and its predictive value in determining the need for a secondary surgical procedure.

Methods: This was a descriptive longitudinal study of 40 skeletally mature patients who sustained long bone fractures of the tibia or femur treated using intramedullary interlocking nails.