OssaTron knee treatment is an alternative to surgery for patients with orthopedic (bone and joint) conditions. According to Sanuwave Inc., manufacturer of OssaTron, high-energy shock waves are sent to the injured knee, increasing blood flow and stimulating the healing process. OssaTron is the first extracorporeal shock wave device designed and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for orthopedic application.
Procedure
Dr. David Bartos, podiatrist and user of OssaTron, states that the procedure takes place in a physician's office while under anesthesia. The target area is identified, marked with a surgical pen and then covered with a thick ultrasound gel. The OssaTron applicator is placed directly on the targeted area and shock waves are released. After the anesthesia wears off, the patient is released.
Benefits
According to Tampa Bay Orthopaedic Specialists, the OssaTron's success rate is equal to or greater than that of surgery. The OssaTron treatment can be performed with very little risks, fewer complications and a shorter recovery time than invasive surgery. Tampa Bay Orthopaedic Specialists state that the OssaTron procedure takes less time to perform, the patients go home the same day and most patients can return to prior activity levels within a few days.
Side Effects
According to Tampa Bay Orthopaedic Specialists, common side effects are reddening, bruising, tingling or tearing of the skin. Changes in sensation and numbness that may last for a few days to several weeks have been reported.
Time Frame
Pain relief for patients begins at different times. According to Bartos, some patients receive immediate pain relief, while it may take up to four weeks for others. "The American Journal of Sports Medicine" reported that at a two- to three-year follow up, 90 percent of patients treated with the OssaTron reported excellent to good results.
Considerations
A class action lawsuit was filed against the original manufacturer of OssaTron, HealthTronics, in 2003. According to the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia, Civil Case No. 03-cv-2800, the manufacturer failed to reveal to investors that not all testing supported the claim that OssaTron was the most effective and safest alternative to surgical treatments.
Other Uses
According to Sanuwave, OssaTron is also used to treat fractures, heel pain, shoulder pain, elbow pain and nonhealing wounds.
Contraindications
Bartos states that OssaTron treatments are not recommended for everyone. Patients taking medications for bleeding disorders, children and pregnant women should not undergo this treatment.
He also advises that the safety and effectiveness of OssaTron treatments have not been established for people with the following health problems: nerve entrapment disorders such as tarsal tunnel syndrome (squeezing of nerves in the ankle); diabetic neuropathy (nerve pain); peripheral vascular disease (poor blood flow to the lower extremities); severe osteoarthritis (degeneration of joint); rheumatoid arthritis (chronic inflammation of joints); osteoporosis; metabolic disorders; malignancies; Paget's disease (disorder of bone causing abnormal calcium levels in blood and bones); osteomyelitis (infection in the bone); and systemic infection (infection affecting the entire body).
