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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2013 Jan 19:14:35.
doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-14-35.

Early application of pulsed electromagnetic field in the treatment of postoperative delayed union of long-bone fractures: a prospective randomized controlled study

Hong-fei Shi  1 , Jin Xiong, Yi-xin Chen, Jun-fei Wang, Xu-sheng Qiu, Yin-he Wang, Yong Qiu
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Early application of pulsed electromagnetic field in the treatment of postoperative delayed union of long-bone fractures: a prospective randomized controlled study

Hong-fei Shi et al. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. .

Abstract

Background: Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) is reported to be an effective adjunct for the management of nonunion long-bone fractures. Most studies implement PEMF treatment after 6 months or longer of delayed union or nonunion following fracture treatment. Despite these variations in treatment, the early application of PEMF following a diagnosis of a postoperative delayed union has not been specifically analyzed. In this study, the outcomes of postoperative delayed union of long-bone fractures treated with an early application of PEMF were evaluated as compared with a sham-treated control group.

Methods: In this prospective, randomized controlled study, a total of 58 long-bone fracture patients, who presented with delayed union of between 16 weeks and 6 months, were randomly split into two groups and subjected to an early application of PEMF or sham treatment. Clinical and radiological assessments were performed to evaluate the healing status. Treatment efficacy was assessed at three month intervals.

Results: Patients in the PEMF group showed a higher rate of union than those in the control group after the first three months of treatment, but this difference failed to achieve statistical significance. At the end of the study, PEMF treatment conducted for an average of 4.8 months led to a success rate of 77.4%. This was significantly higher than the control, which had an average duration of 4.4 months and a success rate of 48.1%. The total time from operation to the end of the study was a mean of 9.6 months for patients in the PEMF group.

Conclusions: Fracture patients treated with an early application of PEMF achieved a significantly increased rate of union and an overall reduced suffering time compared with patients that receive PEMF after the 6 months or more of delayed union, as described by others.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of the study.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The portable treatment equipments used in the study. (a) A set of Orthopulse® II stimulator consisted of different sizes of coils, signal generator, batteries, and removable fixation band; (b) Patient in Group 1 received pulsed electromagnetic field treatment with the coil centered over the fracture site.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Delayed union of tibia fracture treated with PEMF. (a) A delayed union of tibia fracture was observed in a 65-year-old male patient following close reduction and intramedullary fixation 16 weeks ago. PEMF treatment was initiated; (b) Fracture union was observed after 3 months of treatment.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Delayed union of femoral fracture treated with PEMF. (a) PEMF treatment was started in a 59-year-old male patient who received reduction and intramedullary fixation 5 months ago; (b) Radiographies showed progress to union following 3 months of treatment; (c) Fracture united after 8 months of treatment.
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