Open AccessElectromagnetic stimulation as coadjuvant in the healing of diaphyseal femoral fractures: a randomized controlled trial
Author(s) -
Alfredo Martínez-Rondanelli,
Juan Pablo Martínez,
María Elena Moncada,
Eliana Manzi,
Carlos Pinedo,
Héctor Cadavid,
Fundación Valle del Lili,
Martinez Jp
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
colombia medica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.455
H-Index - 18
eISSN - 1657-9534
pISSN - 0120-8322
DOI - 10.25100/cm.v45i2.1479
Subject(s) - medicine , placebo , bone healing , randomized controlled trial , diaphysis , surgery , femoral shaft , anesthesia , femur , alternative medicine , pathology
There is controversy in medical literature regarding the use of electromagnetic fields to promote bone healing.Methods: After designing and building devices capable of generating an electromagnetic field for this study, their safety was confirmed and the electromagnetic therapy was randomly allocated and compared to placebo in patients with fracture of the femoral diaphysis. Treatment began six weeks after the fracture and it was administered once a day, during 1 h, for eight consecutive weeks. Twenty devices were built, 10 of which were placebo-devices. Between June 2008 and October 2009, 64 patients were randomized in two different hospitals and were followed for 24 weeks. The mean age was 30 years (18-59) and 81% were males.Results: Healing observed at week 12 was 75% vs. 58% (p= 0.1); at week 18, it was 94% vs. 80% (p= 0.15); and at week 24, it was 94% vs. 87% (p= 0.43) for the device group and the placebo group, respectively.Discussion: This study suggests that an electromagnetic field stimulus can promote earlier bone healing compared to placebo in femoral diaphyseal fractures. Faster bone healing translates into sooner weight bearing, which – in turn – permits quicker return to normal daily activities.