Sonic diagnosis of bone fracture healing--a preliminary study.

The definition of bone fracture healing onset, progress and extent is a difficult clinical diagnosis. Available criteria of manual stability, X-ray appearance, symptomatic pain and passage of time are indeed valuable, but subjective in nature. This study explores the transmission and comparative measurement of stress wave disturbances across a fracture site as a technique of quantifying the union state. Results from laboratory animal experimentation and subsequent clinical usage indicate a potentially valuable method has been developed.