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Over twenty years ago Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy(ESWL) was
introduced to disintegrate kidney stones. Since then shock waves have
changed the treatment of urolithiasis substantially. Today shock waves
are the first choice to treat kidney and ureteral stones, but urology
is not the only medical field for shock waves in medicine. In recent
years extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) has been involved in
dramatic and profound developments in orthopedics and traumatology
worldwide. With minimal side effects, non-invasive shock wave therapy
is increasingly viewed as one of the most effective treatments available
to mankind.
At the 8th International Congress on Shock Wave Therapy in Vienna, Austria,
physicians from 20 countries and every continent presented 85 scientific
lectures on a broad range of topics. Some of the highlights of the meeting
were the effectiveness of shock waves for bone healing, pain therapy,
circulatory disorders and most impressively poorly functioning heart muscle.
Relief for bedsores, chronic ulcers and skin lesions
Chronic skin ailments such as bedsores, slow healing ulcers, infected wounds
and burns are very common and often lead to long suffering, high costs and a
steep decline in the quality of life.
As an example, 474,692 new cases of bedsores (decubitus ulcer) occurred in the
U.S. in 2000-2002 (Patient Safety in American Hospitals, Health Grades 2004) .
A pilot project involving more than 100 human patients was recently conducted
in Vienna and Berlin with promising results. Complete healing was observed in
more than 80% of the patients treated with virtually no subjective or objective
side effects.
Myocardial Muscle
Impaired blood circulation in heart muscle, whether due to diet, lifestyle or genetics,
has disastrous effects on human beings. Once conservative and surgical procedures have
been exhausted, heart attack patients have little hope of recovery. Prognosis for these
people is very poor.
The first ESWT clinical applications on humans took place in Germany and Switzerland.
After shock wave treatments were applied, a definitive and measurable improvement in
the patient's circulation was achieved. The patient's general condition and a decrease
in heart attacks was also observed. It was noticed that circulation under rest and stress
was substantially improved.
The biochemical effect of shock waves not only produces an improved circulation in blood
vessels, but initiates a healing process in the chronically aggrieved tissues by releasing
growth factors.
Additionally, researchers have also established that shock waves produce an antibacterial
effect in laboratory conditions. This could be very important in speeding the healing process
in certain damaged tissues.
Shock Wave Treatment in Cases of Pseudoarthosis
Over ten years ago,shock wave treatments were first applied systematically in cases of delayed
and non-healing fractures. This was done at the Meidling Trauma Center in Vienna, Austria by
Dr. Wolfgang Schaden. Because of the successful outcomes achieved, the physicians and insurers
in Austria and other European countries have accepted shock wave therapy as the “ treatment of
first choice for non healing fractures.”
For more information please view the brochure below. This file is in PDF format and requires Adobe Reader to view it.
If you do not have Adobe Reader installed on your computer please click here
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©Tissue Regeneration Technologies
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