Monitoring of bone consolidation by ultrasound velocity measurement

Based on a commercially available ultrasound unit, a method was developed to determine the ultrasound velocity in vivo in cortical bone. The proposed method is inherently insensitive to the influence of soft tissues. Velocities measured with this method in young volunteers were in agreement with literature. The method was used to assess bone consolidation in tibiae which were lengthened with the Ilizarov technique. A significant increase of the ultrasound velocity at the healing site was observed throughout healing.