BONE-MINERAL DENSITY CHANGES IN DISTRACTED CALLUS STIMULATED BY PULSED DIRECT ELECTRICAL-CURRENT

To evaluate the effect of application of pulsed direct current electri cal stimulation to callus tissue, a l-cm bone-lengthening model using an external lengthener was applied to rabbit tibia, Twenty-microampere pulsed direct current was applied 12 hours daily from the day of oste otomy until 40 days after the completion of lengthening, The area, bon e mineral content, and bone mineral density of the distracted callus a nd of the proximal and distal segments of the tibia were evaluated usi ng dual-energy xray absorptiometry. The absolute and relative values o f bone mineral density of the electrically stimulated callus were sign ificantly increased as compared with those in the control group, Pulse d direct current electrical stimulation may be indicated in bone lengt hening to stimulate the poorly mineralized callus, and may shorten the overall time course of leg lengthening.