LOW-POWER ELECTROMAGNETIC STIMULATION OF OSTEOTOMIZED RABBIT FIBULAE

The purpose of this study was to determine whether low-power-consuming symmetrical-waveform electromagnetic stimuli could increase the stiff ness of fracture sites in a rabbit fibular-osteotomy model. Both activ e and placebo devices were used in a blinded study protocol. Dose-resp onse studies of pulse amplitude and pulse width were performed by cont inuous application (twenty-four hours a day) of repetitive (fifteen-he rtz), bursted (five-millisecond-long) symmetrical, rectangular electro magnetic stimulus waveforms. The power consumed by these stimuli is ap proximately one-fifth that consumed by the pulsing electromagnetic fie ld devices that are in current clinical use. Significant increase of c allus bending stiffness was produced by pulse widths of five to seven microseconds and pulse amplitudes of fifty to 100 millivolts. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The large consumption of electrical power that is demanded by the specific waveform parameters of the pulsing electromagnetic fi elds used clinically necessitates an increase in the size, weight, and complexity of the devices, which in turn requires increased patient c ompliance and imposes an added management problem for the physician. N oncompliance on the part of the patient often causes loss of prescribe d treatment time, and the possibility of therapeutic success is thereb y diminished. The ideal stimulation device would be totally cast-incor porated; it would require no intervention on the part of the