Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound as an Adjunctive Therapy for Bone Regeneration Following Jaw Cyst Enucleation

Overview

This study tested whether low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) could help patients recover better after surgery to remove jaw cysts. A total of 29 patients with 33 jaw cysts were included. After surgery, they were randomly assigned to two groups: Ultrasound group (17 patients, 18 cysts): received daily LIPUS therapy for 10 days. Control group (12 patients, 15 cysts): received the same care but with a sham (inactive) device. The study was triple-blinded, meaning that the patients, the surgeon, and the evaluators did not know who was receiving real or sham treatment. Researchers measured recovery in several ways: Patient reports: pain, numbness, anxiety/depression, and oral health-related quality of life. Clinician monitoring: checked for any side effects (like infection or burns). Imaging tests (CBCT scans): tracked how well bone healed by measuring changes in cyst cavity size (volume reduction) and new bone density. All patients had the same type of surgery, performed by the same surgeon, and all provided written informed consent. The study followed international ethics and trial registration standards.

This clinical trial will explore whether a special type of ultrasound treatment, called low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS), can improve recovery after surgery to remove cysts in the jaw. Jaw cysts are fluid-filled sacs that can weaken the jawbone, cause swelling, and sometimes lead to pain or numbness. The standard treatment is surgical removal of the cyst, but healing can take a long time, and patients may continue to experience discomfort or reduced quality of life. To investigate a possible solution, researchers will enroll 29 patients with a total of 33 jaw cysts. After their cysts are surgically removed, patients will be randomly divided into two groups: The ultrasound group will receive 10 days of daily LIPUS therapy, beginning three days after surgery. The control group will receive the same routine care but with a sham (inactive) device that looks and feels the same, so patients will not know if they are receiving real ultrasound. The study will use a triple-blind design, meaning that the patients, the surgeon, and the evaluators will not know which group each patient is in. This ensures that the results are as reliable and unbiased as possible. Recovery will be evaluated in several ways: Patient experiences: Participants will report on their pain levels, numbness, anxiety, depression, and overall quality of life using standard questionnaires. Medical monitoring: Doctors will check for side effects such as infection, skin irritation, or other complications. Advanced imaging: Cone-beam CT (CBCT) scans will measure how much the cyst cavity shrinks and how well new bone forms. The scans will also be used to track bone density over time, which shows how strong and healthy the healing bone becomes. All surgeries will be performed by the same experienced surgeon to ensure consistency. The study will follow strict international research standards, including ethics approval and clinical trial registration. All participants will be fully informed about the study and will provide written consent before joining.