Effect of Low Magnitude and High Frequency Mechanical Stimuli on Defects Healing in Cranial Bones

Purpose: The aim of this investigation was to assess the effect of low magnitude high frequency (LMHF) mechanical vibrated stimulation on healing the defects surgically imposed on craniofacial bones. Materials and Methods: Forty 12-week-old C3H strain mice were separated into surgical and non-surgical groups. The surgical groups had a reproducible surgical bony lesion prepared in their right parietal bone. Both groups were further subdivided into vibration (experimental) and non-vibration (control) groups at 3 time points (zero hours, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks). The vibration groups were subjected to LMHF mechanical stimuli (30 Hz with peak strain 5με{lunate}) via a vibration machine for 20 minutes a day for 5 days a week for a total of 28 days. The specimens were analyzed using micro-computer tomography (micro-CT). Results: Micro-CT volumetric measurement showed that in the surgical defects groups there was a significant decrease in the volume of the healing lesion with time (P < .001) and the linear decrease was significantly more pronounced in the vibration-treated group than the nontreated group (P < .001). Micro-CT histomorphometric measurement showed that in the nonsurgical groups there was no significant difference in microstructures of bony trabeculae between vibration-treated and nontreated groups. Conclusion: It is suggested that the introduction of LMHF mechanical stimuli in a healing bony lesion in the non-weight bearing bone significantly increases its healing capacity.