Treatment of nonunited fractures with capacitively coupled electric field

AbstractFracture healing undoubtedly depends on the orthopedic treatment applied: alignment, immobilization and contact between the stumps of the fracture constitute the biomechanical basis for any effective orthopedic treatment capable of ensuring fracture healing. However, the relevance of the bio...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of orthopaedics and traumatology 2006-03, Vol.7 (1), p.16-22
Main Authors: Impagliazzo, A., Mattei, A., Spurio Pompili, G. F., Setti, S., Cadossi, R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alignment
Biomechanics
Biomedical materials
Bone healing
Bone loss
Callus
Electric contacts
Electric fields
Electrical stimuli
Fractures
Growth factors
Healing
Immobilization
Infections
Orthopedics
Osteogenesis
Patients
Stability criteria
Stimulation
Wound healing
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Summary:AbstractFracture healing undoubtedly depends on the orthopedic treatment applied: alignment, immobilization and contact between the stumps of the fracture constitute the biomechanical basis for any effective orthopedic treatment capable of ensuring fracture healing. However, the relevance of the biological environment and the need to maximize the endogenous osteogenetic activity are becoming evident. Presently, osteogenesis can be enhancement by means of growth factors or physical stimulation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of capacitively coupled electric field (CCEF), a physical method to stimulate osteogenesis, in patients suffering from nonunited fractures. Thirty patients were included in the study. Inclusion criteria foresaw: no radiological evidence of callus formation, the fracture site had to be stable, bone stumps were aligned and, in the presence of bone loss, its extension could not exceed half the diameter of the treated bone. The presence of infection did not preclude recruitment. Standard radiographs were used to determine fracture healing. Out of 30 patients, 22 were men and 8 women. The sites of treatment were: 10 tibiae, 9 femura, 5 forearms, 2 humeri and 4 others. The average length of the stimulation was 10 weeks and the average daily time of CCEF use was 8 h. Among patients that met the inclusion criteria the success healing rate was 84%, in contrast, healing was not observed among the 5 patients who did not meet the inclusion criteria (p
ISSN:1590-9921
1590-9999
DOI:10.1007/s10195-006-0115-z