Electrical stimulation of bone nonunion with the presence of a gap

• Published in: Acta orthopaedica belgica Vol. 61; no. 3; pp. 169 - 176
• Main Authors: ZAMORA-NAVAS, P, BORRAS VERDERA, A, LORENZO, R. A, SARAS AYUSO, J. R, PENA REINA, M. C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bruxelles Acta medica belgica 1995
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Bony Callus - physiology; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Electric Stimulation Therapy - methods; Female; Fracture Healing; Fractures, Ununited - complications; Fractures, Ununited - diagnostic imaging; Fractures, Ununited - physiopathology; Fractures, Ununited - therapy; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous. Osteoarticular involvement in other diseases; Osteomyelitis - complications; Radiography; Human; Pseudoarthrosis; Treatment; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Gap; Complication; Fracture; Capacitive coupling; Bone; Technique
• ISSN: 0001-6462

A total of 22 established nonunions was treated with a capacitively-coupled electrical signal. A gap of 0.5 cm or more between the fragments was present in all of these nonunions. After an average of 26 weeks of treatment with capacitive coupling, radiographic assessment showed solid bone union in 72.7% of the cases. The results were better when the fracture site was metaphyseal. When the site was diaphyseal, bone healing was mainly achieved by bone trabeculae invading the gap. When the site was metaphyseal, healing occurred by the formation of a peripheral callus. The results were not affected by the presence of infection. In 8 of the cases osteomyelitis occurred, but all healed.