Popis: |
Extracorporeal shockwave treatment (ESWT) has been in use for more than 20 years in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. It is used more commonly for tendinopathies such as plantar fasciitis, lateral epicondylitis of the elbow, and shoulder calcific tendinitis. It has also been used for delayed and nonunion of fractures and early avascular necrosis and bone ischemia. Although ESWT started initially in Europe, its use has spread over the whole world. There is a vast number of reputable publications on the use of ESWT. FDA has approved the use of ESWT for plantar fasciitis (2000) and lateral epicondylitis of the elbow (2002). The ease of application and the low complication rate, with a success rate ranging from 65% to 90%, has led to an exponential increase in its clinical use and applications. This chapter reviews the current status of ESWT in orthopedics. |