Abstract
A short overview of research, carried out before clinical trials, is given, and is followed by brief notes on some clinical aspects of various systems. A description of a method using an iron-cored electromagnet is included, along with a summary of a short series of case histories. The four techniques employed in clinical work so far are then compared in terms of their advantages and disadvantages in usage.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bassett, C. A. L. andBecker, R. O. (1962) Generation of electric potentials by bone in response to mechanical stress.Science137, 1036.
Bassett, C. A. L., Pawluk, R. J. andBecker, R. O. (1964) Effects of electric currents on bonein vivo.Nature204, 652–654.
Bassett, C. A. L. andPawluk, R. J. (1974) Acceleration of fracture repair by electromagnetic fields.Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sc.,238, 242–261.
Bassett, C. A. L., Pilla, A. A. andPawluk, R. J. (1977) A non-operative salvage cf surgically-resistant pseudoarthroses and non-unions by pulsing electromagnetic fields.Clin. Orth. & Rel. Res.,124, 128–143.
Becker, R. O., Spadaro, J. A. andMarino, A. A. (1977) Clinical experiences with low intensity direct current stimulation of bone growth.,124, 75–82.
Brington, C. T., Cronkey, J. E. andOsterman, A. L. (1976)In vitro epiphyseal plate growth in various constant electric fields.J. Bone & Joint Surg.,58-A, 971–978.
Brighton, C. T., Friedenburg, Z. B. andMitchell, E. I. (1977) Treatment of non-union with constant direct current.Clin. Orth. & Rel. Res.,124, 106–123.
Cochran, G. V. B., Pawluk, R. J. andBassett, C. A. L. (1968) Characteristics of bone under physiologic moisture conditions.Clin. Orth. & Rel. Res.,58, 250–269.
Cochran, G. Van B. (1972) Experimental methods for stimulation of bone healing by means of electrical energy.Bull. N.Y. Acad. Med.,48, 899–911.
Duncan, R. I. andMacmillan, A. D. (1975) Embryonic chick tibiae in steady electric fields.Nature,257, 162.
Friedenburg, Z. B., Andrews, E. T., Smolewski, B. I. Pearl, B. W. andBrighton, C. T. (1970) Bone reaction to varying amounts of direct current.Surg. Gynec. & Obstet.,131, 894–899.
Friedenburg, Z. B., Harlow, M. C. andBrighton, C. T. (1971) Healing of non-union of the medial malleolus by means of direct current: a case report.J. Trauma,11, 883–885.
Fukada, E. andYasuda, J. (1957) On the piezoelectric effect of bone.J. Physiol. Soc. Japan,12, 1158–1162.
Fukada, E., Takamatsu, T. andYasuda, I. (1975) Callus formation by electret.Japan. J. Appl. Phys.,14, 2079–2080.
DeHaas, W. G. andWatson, J. (1975) Treatment of a non-union of the tibia using a pulsed magnetic field.Soc. Int. de Chir. Orth. et de Traum., Paper 1111, 13th World Congress, Copenhagen.
Hambury, H. J., Watson, J., Sivyer, A., andAshley, D. J. B. (1971) Effect of microamp electrical currents on bonein vivo and its measurement using strontium-85 uptake.Nature,231, 190–192.
Hambury, H. J., Watson, J., Toole, A., Sivyer, A. andAshley, D. B. J. (1974) Interdisciplinary approaches in electrically mediated bone growth studies.Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci.,238, 508–517.
Harris, W. H. andHeaney, R. P. (1969) Skeletal renewal and metabolic bone disease.New Engl. J. Med.,280, 193–202.
Hassler, C. R., Rybicki, E. E., Diegle, R. B. andClarke, L. C. (1977) Studies of enhanced bone healing via electrical stimuli.Clin. Orth. & Rel. Res.,124, 9–19.
Jahn, T. L. (1968) A possible mechanism for the effect of electrical potentials on apatite formation in bone.,56, 261–273.
Lavine, L. S., Lustrin, I., Shamos, M. H., Rinaldi, R. A. andLiboff, A. R. (1972) Electric enhancement of bone healing.Science,175, 1118–1121.
Lavine, L. S., Lustrin, I. andShamos, M. H. (1977) Treatment of congenital pseudoarthrosis of the tibia with direct current.Clin. Orth. & Rel. Res.124, 69–74.
Norton, L. A. andMoore, R. A. (1972) Bone growth in organ culture modified by an electric field.J. Dent. Res.,51, 1492–1499.
Norton, L. A. (1974)In vivo bone growth in a controlled electric field.Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci.,238, 466–476.
Richez, J., Chamay, A. andBieler, L. (1972) Bone changes due to pulses of direct current.Virchows Arch. Abt. A. Path. Anat.,357, 11–18.
Rodan, G. A., Bourrett, L. A. andNorton, L. A. (1978) DNA synthesis in cartilage cells is stimulated by oscillating electric fields.Science,199, 690–692.
Spadaro, J. A. (1977) Electrically stimulated bone growth in animals and man.Clin. Orth. & Rel. Res.,122, 325–332.
Steinberg, M. E., Busenkell, G. L., Black, J. andKorostoff, E. (1974) Stress-induced potentials in moist bonein vitro.J. Bone & Joint Surg.,56-A, 704–713.
Suzuki, Y., Yasuda, I., Okada, K., Yamashita, S., Ishii, S. andTerauchi, S. (1976) Bone proliferation induced by electret in tibia fracture.Cent. Japan. J. Orth. Traum. Surg.,19, 1026–1029.
Watson, J., DeHaas, W. G. andHauser, S. S. (1975) Effect of electric fields on growth rate of embryonic chick tibiaein vitro.Nature,254, 331–332.
Watson, J. andDownes, E. M. (1978) The application of pulsed magnetic fields to the stimulation of bone healing in humans.Japan. J. Appl. Phys.,17, 215–217.
Wolff, J. (1892)Das Gesetz der Transformation der Knochen, Hirschwald, Berlin.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Watson, J., Downes, E.M. Clinical aspects of the stimulation of bone healing using electrical phenomena. Med. Biol. Eng. Comput. 17, 161–169 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02440924
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02440924