Treatment of nonunion using pulsed electromagnetic
fields: a retrospective follow-up study.
Effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields on Steinberg
ratings of femoral head osteonecrosis.
Stimulation of experimental endochondral ossification by
low-energy pulsing electromagnetic fields.
Role of pulsed electromagnetic fields in recalcitrant
non-unions.
In vitro low frequency electromagnetic field effect on fast
axonal transport.
Effects of pulsed extremely-low-frequency magnetic fields
on skin wounds in the rat.
Treatment of delayed union and nonunion of the tibia by
pulsed electromagnetic fields. A retrospective follow-up.
Enhanced responsiveness to parathyroid hormone and
induction of functional differentiation of cultured rabbit costal
chondrocytes by a pulsed electromagnetic field.
Impulse magnetic-field therapy for erectile dysfunction: a
double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
Comparison of electromagnetic field stimulation on the
healing of small and large intestinal anastomoses.
Treatment of nonunion using pulsed electromagnetic
fields: a retrospective follow-up study.
Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) are a useful means of treating
cases of fracture nonunion. In 67.7% of nonunions with a disability time
of at least 24 months, complete consolidation was obtained. This success
rate is increased to 76.6% if we exclude nonunion, that presented
contraindications for treatment with PEMF. The disability time had no
effect on the success rate. Lesions of the humerus and atrophic nonunion
had an unfavorable prognosis.
Meskens M. et.al. Dep. Orthopedic Surgery,
University Hospital, Pellenberg, Belgium. Acta Orthop Belg
Effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields on
Steinberg ratings of femoral head osteonecrosis.
95 Patients with femoral head osteonecrosis met the protocol for
treatment of 118 hips with selected pulsed electromagnetic fields
(PEMFs). Etiologies included trauma (17), alcohol (9), steroid use (46),
sickle cell disease (2), and idiopathy (44). The average age was 38
years, and the average follow-up period since the onset of symptoms was
5.3 years. PEMF treatment had been instituted an average of 4.1 years
earlier. By the Steinberg quantitative staging method of
roentgenographic analysis, none of the 15 hips in Stages 0-III showed
progression, and grading improved in nine of 15. Eighteen of 79 hips
(23%) with Stage IV lesions progressed and none improved. In the Stage V
category, one of 21 hips (5%) worsened and none improved. Three Stage VI
lesions were unchanged. The overall rate of quantified progression for
the 118 hips, 87% of which had collapse present when entering the
program, was 16%. This value represents a reversal of the percentage of
progression reported recently by other investigators using conservative
and selected surgical methods. PEMF patients also have experienced
long-term improvements in symptoms and signs, together with a reduction
in the need for early joint arthroplasty.
Bassett C. et.al. Orthopaedic Hospital, Riverdale,
NY Clin Orthop
Stimulation of experimental endochondral
ossification by low-energy pulsing electromagnetic fields.
Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) of certain configuration have been
shown to be effective clinically in promoting the healing of fracture
nonunions and are believed to enhance calcification of extracellular
matrix. In vitro studies have suggested that PEMFs may also have the
effect of modifying the extracellular matrix by promoting the synthesis
of matrix molecules. This study examines the effect of one PEMF upon the
extracellular matrix and calcification of endochondral ossification in
vivo. The synthesis of cartilage molecules is enhanced by PEMF, and
subsequent endochondral calcification is stimulated. Histomorphometric
studies indicate that the maturation of bone trabeculae is also promoted
by PEMF stimulation. These results indicate that a specific PEMF can
change the composition of cartilage extracellular matrix in vivo and
raises the possibility that the effects on other processes of
endochondral ossification (e.g., fracture healing and growth plates) may
occur through a similar mechanism.
Aaron R. et.al. Dep. Biochemistry and Biophysics,
University of Rhode Island J Bone Miner Res
Role of pulsed electromagnetic fields in
recalcitrant non-unions.
Twenty-nine patients of recalcitrant nonunion of long bones were treated
by pulsed electromagnetic fields in an attempt to bring about
osteogenesis. The pulse used was rectangular, equal mark space wave in
the astable, continuous mode operating at a frequency of 40 Hertz. The
success rate was 82.5%. The result was not dependent on the age, sex,
time of nonunion or the presence of infection. However, the results were
uniformly poor when infection and fracture instability were coexistent
in the same patient.
Delima DF, Tanna DD J Postgrad Med
In vitro low frequency electromagnetic field effect
on fast axonal transport.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a low
frequency electromagnetic field on fast axonal transport for future
neuroprosthetic applications. Changes in speeds and densities of
retrograde fast organelle transport in rat sciatic nerve preparations
were measured in vitro upon exposure to 15 and 50 Hz pulsed magnetic
fields with peak intensities of 4.4 and 8.8 mT. Maximum current density
of the induced eddy current was calculated to be about 40 microA/cm2.
Video enhanced differential interference contrast microscopy was used to
record axons supporting active organelle transport. Strong effects were
observed in myelinated axons (cessation of transport in up to 10 min).
Such effects may eventually be used as part of a neuroprosthesis to
noninvasively modify or couple to various parts of the nervous system.
Zborowski M. et.al. Dep. Artificial Organs,
Cleveland Clinic Found. ASAIO Trans
Effects of pulsed extremely-low-frequency magnetic
fields on skin wounds in the rat.
Rats with skin-wounds surgically created on their backs were exposed
immediately after surgery and every 12 h thereafter to pulsed,
extremely-low-frequency magnetic fields. The shape of the pulse was a
positive triangle (50 Hz, 8 mT peak). The rate of healing of skin wounds
was evaluated macroscopically and by light and electron microscopy at 6,
12, 21, and 42 days after the operation. A significant increase in the
rate of wound contraction was found in rats treated with magnetic
fields. Forty-two days after surgery all treated animals show fully
closed wounds, while control rats at the same time intervals still
lacked a final 6% of the wound surface to be covered. Treated rats
showed earlier cellular organization, collagen formation and maturation,
and a very early appearance of newly formed vascular network.
Ottani V. et.al. Istituto di Anatomia, Bologna,
Italy. Bioelectromagnetics
Treatment of delayed union and nonunion of the tibia
by pulsed electromagnetic
fields. A retrospective follow-up.
The results of a clinical follow-up of 57 tibial lesions treated with
pulsed electromagnetic fields at least six months after the primary
lesion occurred proved that this noninvasive method can be a valuable
alternative to other commonly accepted modes of therapy. The overall
success rate was 75% but could be improved to 81% when the proper
indications were met.
Meskens M. et.al. Dep. Orthopaedics, University
Hospital, Pellenberg Bull Hosp Jt Dis Orthop Inst
Enhanced responsiveness to parathyroid hormone and
induction of functional differentiation of cultured rabbit costal
chondrocytes by a pulsed electromagnetic field.
Pulsed electromagnetic fields promote healing of delayed united and
ununited fractures by triggering a series of events in fibrocartilage.
We examined the effects of a pulsed electromagnetic field (recurrent
bursts, 15.4 Hz, of shorter pulses of an average of 2 gauss) on rabbit
costal chondrocytes in culture. A pulsed electromagnetic field slightly
reduced the intracellular cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP)
level in the culture. However, it significantly enhanced cAMP
accumulation in response to parathyroid hormone (PTH) to 140% of that
induced by PTH in its absence, while it did not affect cAMP accumulation
in response to prostaglandin E1 or prostaglandin I2. The effect on camp
accumulation in response to PTH became evident after exposure of the
cultures to the pulsed electromagnetic field for 48 h, and was dependent
upon the field strength. cAMP accumulation in response to PTH is
followed by induction of ornithine decarboxylase, a good marker of
differentiated chondrocytes, after PTH treatment for 4 h. Consistent
with the enhanced cAMP accumulation, ornithine decarboxylase activity
induced by PTH was also increased by the pulsed electromagnetic field to
170% of that in cells not exposed to a pulsed electromagnetic field.
Furthermore, stimulation of glycosaminoglycan synthesis, a
differentiated phenotype, in response to PTH was significantly enhanced
by a pulsed electromagnetic field. Thus, a pulsed electromagnetic field
enhanced a series of events in rabbit costal chondrocytes in response to
PTH. These findings show that exposure of chondrocytes to a pulsed
electromagnetic field resulted in functional differentiation of the
cells.
Hiraki Y. et.al. Dep. Biochemistry and
Calcified-Tissue Metabolism, Faculty of Dentistry, Osaka University,
Japan. Biochim Biophys Acta
Impulse magnetic-field therapy for erectile
dysfunction: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
This double-blind, placebo-controlled study assessed the efficacy of 3
weeks of pulsing magnetic-field therapy for erectile dysfunction (ED).
In the active-treatment group, all efficacy endpoints were significantly
improved at study end (P < or = .01), with 80% reporting increases in
intensity and duration of erection, frequency of genital warmth, and
general well-being. Only 30% of the placebo group noted some improvement
in their sexual activity; 70% had no change. No side effects were
reported.
Pelka R. Et.al. Universitat der Bundeswehr Munchen,
Neubiberg/Munich, Germany.
Comparison of electromagnetic field stimulation on
the healing of small and large intestinal anastomoses.
Magnetic fields have been shown to affect biologic processes.
Accordingly, an experimental study was designed to investigate the
effect of electromagnetic field therapy on intestinal healing and to
compare small and large intestinal anastomoses. Conclusions:
Electromagnetic field stimulation provided a significant gain in
anastomotic healing in both small and large intestine. The study
demonstrated a significant increase in both biochemical and mechanical
parameters.
Nayci A. et.al. Cakmak M, Aksoyek S, Renda N,
Yucesan S. Department of Pediatric Surgery, Mersin University Medical
Faculty, Turkey.
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