Spine fusion for discogenic low back pain: Outcomes in patients treated with or without pulsed electromagnetic field stimulation

Sixty-one randomly selected patients who underwent lumbar fusion surgeries for discogenic low back pain between 1987 and 1994 were retrospectively stu died. All patients had failed to respond to preoperative conservative treat ments. Forty-two patients received adjunctive therapy with pulsed electroma gnetic field (PEMF) stimulation, and 19 patients received no electrical sti mulation of any kind. Average follow-up time was 15.6 months postoperativel y. Fusion succeeded in 97.6% of the PEMF group and in 52.6% of the unstimul ated group (P<.001). The observed agreement between clinical and radiograph ic outcome was 75%. The use of PEMF stimulation enhances bony bridging in l umbar spinal fusions. Successful fusion underlies a good clinical outcome i n patients with discogenic low back pain.