About five percent of fractures do not heal or heal badly. In these cases the shock wave therapy could be helpful.

In former times, the patient has to be operated. Thereby the points of fracture were grated by files to stimulate the growth of bones and then put together with screws. This method was practised for long times. It was a real torture for the patient because often lots of surgical interventions were required.

The shock wave therapy does not need surgery. With an electric device applying a voltage up to 28,000 V an underwater explosion is evoked. The resulting high-energy waves can be focussed and guided exactly to the points of fracture. The enormous forces destroy the shell of the bone endings. Microscopic tears and bleedings occur. These injuries stimulate the tissue to growth and to close the gap between the bones.

The therapy continues 20 to 90 minutes and is quite painful. Therefore it is applied under an anaesthetic. Further, patient and physician have to wear protectors for the ears because of the explosions.

After the treatment the patient has no additional pain. It takes 34 days on average until the bone endings fit together again. The chances of success reach more than 70 %.