LIPUS healing

How LIPUS Works

How Does LIPUS Affect Fracture Healing?

The fracture repair process is divided into four stages: inflammation, soft callus formation, hard callus formation, and remodeling.22 Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound treatment (LIPUS) has been shown to accelerate fracture healing at every stage, with maximum benefit achieved when applied throughout the entire healing process.22

AccelStim™ uses a low-intensity pulsed ultrasound mechanical pressure wave composed of 1000 pulses per second to stimulate a response at the cellular level.23,24

Cells in a healing bone

LIPUS Stimulates Signaling Pathways, Leading to Increased Cell Differentiation

  • LIPUS stimulates the expression of aggrecan in chondrocytes, leading to accelerated cartilage formation,25 which is part of the initial phase of the fracture healing process.22
  • LIPUS stimulates integrin activation, leading to increased gene expression of osteogenic growth factors and markers of osteogenesis. These include osteonectin, osteopontin, and insulin growth factor.22,25,26
  • LIPUS stimulation alters the gene expression profile in osteocytes thus modifying the function of osteogenic and inflammatory cells that are involved in the fracture healing process.27

LIPUS Stimulates Bone Cells to Proliferate, Differentiate, and Mineralize

  • LIPUS stimulates undifferentiated mesenchymal stem cells to differentiate into osteoblasts.28
  • In response to LIPUS, periosteal tissue increases expression of osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase, and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor. These resulted in an increase in mineralization and enhanced angiogenesis.29
  • Enhanced stimulation of osteogenic cells by LIPUS drive endochondral ossification.30,31

Bone cells multiplying
bone regeneration

LIPUS Increases New Bone Formation

  • LIPUS increases mineralization and calcium deposition.32,33
  • LIPUS enhances bone formation.34
  • LIPUS improves osteogenic differentiation, mineralization, volume of newly formed bone, and osseointegration.35
  • LIPUS accelerates all stages of the fracture repair process (inflammation, bone formation, and bone remodeling) by increasing mineralization and reducing the inflammatory response.22,36,37