The Effect of Unfocused Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy on Bone Defect Healing in Diabetics.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the unfocused extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on healing of mandible ramus defects in diabetic rats.

Material And Method: Forty male Wistar albino rats were used in the experiment. All animals were randomly divided into 2 main groups, nondiabetic and diabetic. Critical-sized defects were created on ramus in all rats. ESWT was performed to half of rats in each group at 3 sessions after surgery. Animals were euthanized at either fourth or eighth week. Stereological and radiologic examination was performed. Data were statistically analyzed by one-way variance analysis and Tukey post-hoc test.

Results: Hounsfield Unit values were higher in DE group than DE group in both 8-week and 4-week groups (P > 0.05). In both 4-week and 8-week diabetic groups, higher value was observed when compared with nondiabetic groups (P > 0.05). According to stereological results, in 4-week groups, there was a higher new bone, connective tissue, and neovascularization volume in DE group than DE group and in DE group than DE group. These results are similar for the 8-week groups except NV volume.

Conclusion: It was found that ESWT application has no positive effect on the healing of critical-sized bone defects in nondiabetics whereas promising effects in diabetics were observed.