EFFECT OF CAPACITIVELY COUPLED ELECTRIC-FIELDS ON AN EXPERIMENTAL-MODEL OF DELAYED UNION OF FRACTURE

To evaluate the effect of capacitively coupled electric fields (CCEF) on delayed union of fractures, an experimental model of delayed union was produced in the radius of rabbits, and the process of healing was investigated by radiography, bone mineral density (BMD) measured with dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, and histological survey. It was conf irmed radiographically and histologically that callus formation was en hanced in the group treated with CCEF. After stimulation, the average BMD increased more than 18% compared with the controls. Our experiment on a delayed union model suggests that CCEF is effective for the trea tment of delayed union of fractures.