Stimulation of fracture healing with electromagnetic fields of extremely low frequency (EMF of ELF).

Clinical orthopaedics and related research · 1984 · Benefit · Low evidence

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BenefitLow evidencePaper 5499

In this randomized controlled study of 30 women with Colles' fractures, the treated group (ELF EMF, 1–1000 Hz, 4 gauss RMS) had significantly higher Tc-MDP activity ratios in the fracture area at 1 and 2 weeks compared with controls. The authors state the cli…

Study snapshot

PublicationClinical orthopaedics and related research · 1984

Study typerandomized_trial

Reported directionBenefit

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

This randomized, controlled study was performed to evaluate how electromagnetic fields affect the accumulation of 99mTechnetium - methylendiphosphonate (Tc-MDP) in fresh fractures. Thirty women with Colles' fractures, aged 50-70 years, participated in this study--some in a control group and some in a treated group. After reduction, all patients were immobilized for four weeks. After randomization, 15 patients were treated by electromagnetic fields of extremely low frequency (EMF of ELF ), which were generated by a coil and a battery-powered portable current generator during the time of immobilization. The frequency of the alternating magnetic field was 1-1000 Hz; the magnitude was 4 gauss [RMS (root-mean-square) value]. The scintigrams were performed one, two, four, and eight weeks after the injury. The activity ratio in the fracture area was significantly higher at the examination of one and two weeks (p less than 0.05, p less than 0.01) in the treated group than it was in the control group. The clinical relevance of the results is not known, but one interpretation of the data is that the stimulation with EMF of ELF improves (accelerates) the early phase of fracture healing. The data warrant further investigation of fresh fracture treatment with this method.

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AI evidence extraction

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Study typerandomized_trial

Effect directionbenefit

PopulationWomen aged 50–70 years with fresh Colles' fractures

Sample size30

ExposureELF · during 4 weeks of immobilization

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Accumulation of 99mTechnetium-methylendiphosphonate (Tc-MDP) in fracture area (scintigraphy activity ratio)

Limitations

Clinical relevance of increased Tc-MDP uptake is stated as unknown
Small sample size (n=30; 15 treated/15 control)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "randomized_trial",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "therapeutic coil (battery-powered portable current generator)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "during 4 weeks of immobilization"
  },
  "population": "Women aged 50–70 years with fresh Colles' fractures",
  "sample_size": 30,
  "outcomes": [
    "Accumulation of 99mTechnetium-methylendiphosphonate (Tc-MDP) in fracture area (scintigraphy activity ratio)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In this randomized controlled study of 30 women with Colles' fractures, the treated group (ELF EMF, 1–1000 Hz, 4 gauss RMS) had significantly higher Tc-MDP activity ratios in the fracture area at 1 and 2 weeks compared with controls. The authors state the clinical relevance is not known, but suggest the findings may indicate accelerated early fracture healing.",
  "effect_direction": "benefit",
  "limitations": [
    "Clinical relevance of increased Tc-MDP uptake is stated as unknown",
    "Small sample size (n=30; 15 treated/15 control)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low frequency",
    "ELF",
    "electromagnetic fields",
    "fracture healing",
    "Colles' fracture",
    "scintigraphy",
    "Tc-MDP",
    "randomized controlled study"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: Not supplied
PubMed: 6233054

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