The Effect of Electric Current on the Healing time of Crural Fractures

Abstract

Wolff (1892) set up the classical law about the influence of loading on bone structure and on the growth of bone. The effect of this law is partially unknown, but investigations during the last 20 years make Aided by a grant from the Foundation of P. Carl Petersen.

Asymmetric Biphasic Voltage Stimulation of the Osteotomized Rabbit Bone

“…The study showed that stabilization pins for long bone fractures can well be used as electrodes instead of local electrode leads. This observation confirms the clinical reports on the combination of electrical stimulation and external transfixation (Jorgensen 1972, Inoue et al 1977, v. Satzger & Herbst 1976. We have since further improved the external transfixation method by increasing the number of pins.…”

“…This improved immobilization technique with greater stability has been found applicable to the immobilization of a tibial osteotomy in the rabbit (Ah0 et al 1978). This experimental fracture model combined with electrical stimulation is in principle analogous to the clinical application of electrical stimulation when bone rods of the Hoffmann apparatus are used as electrodes in human crural fractures (Jorgensen 1972(Jorgensen , 1977.…”

Electrical Stimulation in Delayed Union of Long Bones

“…Two of these were superficial. Osteoporosis of the distal Libial fragment as reported by Jorgensen (1972) was not seen in this series. The feeling of warmth at the site of introduction of the electrodes was few cases in the initial stages.…”

Dynamic changes in traction forces with DC electric field in osteoblast-like cells

“…For application of the electric field to the cells, we used agar bridges; one end was placed in the container and the other end at the side of the cell chamber. Agar bridges permit the flow of current but block convection of toxic substances from the wires (Jorgensen, 1972), electrolysis and electro-osmosis (Steckel et al, 1984), as well as joule heating (Brighton et al, 1975). In the middle of the chamber there is a block of polycarbonate, which serves to insulate the two margins of the cover slip where the agar bridges are placed.…”