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Low dose of continuous-wave microwave irradiation did not cause temperature increase in muscles tissue adjacent to titanium alloy implants--an animal study.

BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2013 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 6532

In rabbits with titanium alloy femoral fixation plates, microwave therapy at 2450 MHz produced significant increases in peak temperature and temperature gap in deep and superficial muscles at 60 W, and in deep muscles at 50 W, but not at 20–40 W. The authors …

Study snapshot

PublicationBMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2013
Study typeanimal
Reported directionMixed
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Research studies on the influence of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation on implants in vitro have failed to investigate temperature changes in the tissues adjacent to the implants under microwave therapy. We therefore, used a rabbit model in an effort to determine the impact of microwave therapy on temperature changes in tissues adjacent to the titanium alloy implants and the safety profile thereof. METHODS: Titanium alloy internal fixation plates were implanted in New Zealand rabbits in the middle of femur. Microwave therapy was performed by a 2450 MHz microwave generator 3 days after the surgery. Temperature changes of muscles adjacent to the implants were recorded under exposure to dose-gradient microwave radiation from 20w to 60w. RESULTS: Significant difference between control and microwave treatment group at peak temperatures (T(peak)) and temperature gap (T(gap) = T(peak)-T(vally)) were observed in deep muscles (T(peak), 41.63 ± 0.21°C vs. 44.40 ± 0.17°C, P < 0.01; T(gap), 5.33 ± 0.21°C vs. 8.10 ± 0.36°C, P < 0.01) and superficial muscles (T(peak), 41.53 ± 0.15°C vs. 42.03 ± 0.23°C, P = 0.04; T(gap), 5.23 ± 0.21°C vs. 5.80 ± 0.17°C, P = 0.013) under 60 w, and deep muscles (T(peak), 40.93 ± 0.25°C vs. 41.87 ± 0.23°C, P = 0.01; T(gap), 4.73 ± 0.20°C vs. 5.63 ± 0.35°C, P = 0.037) under 50w, but not under 20, 30 and 40w. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that low-dose (20w-40w) continuous-wave microwave irradiation delivered by a 2450 MHz microwave generator might be a promising treatment for patients with titanium alloy internal fixation, as it did not raise temperature in muscle tissues adjacent to the titanium alloy implant.

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AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeanimal
Effect directionmixed
PopulationNew Zealand rabbits with titanium alloy internal fixation plates implanted in the femur
Sample sizeNot supplied
Exposuremicrowave · 2450 MHz
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In rabbits with titanium alloy femoral fixation plates, microwave therapy at 2450 MHz produced significant increases in peak temperature and temperature gap in deep and superficial muscles at 60 W, and in deep muscles at 50 W, but not at 20–40 W. The authors conclude that 20–40 W continuous-wave exposure did not raise adjacent muscle temperature.

Outcomes measured

  • Temperature changes in muscle tissue adjacent to titanium alloy implants (peak temperature, temperature gap)

Limitations

  • Sample size not reported in the abstract
  • Exposure duration and other dosimetry details (e.g., SAR, distance, field strength) not reported
  • Animal model; generalizability to humans uncertain
  • Temperature outcomes only; no clinical endpoints reported
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "microwave",
    "source": "microwave therapy",
    "frequency_mhz": 2450,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "New Zealand rabbits with titanium alloy internal fixation plates implanted in the femur",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Temperature changes in muscle tissue adjacent to titanium alloy implants (peak temperature, temperature gap)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In rabbits with titanium alloy femoral fixation plates, microwave therapy at 2450 MHz produced significant increases in peak temperature and temperature gap in deep and superficial muscles at 60 W, and in deep muscles at 50 W, but not at 20–40 W. The authors conclude that 20–40 W continuous-wave exposure did not raise adjacent muscle temperature.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in the abstract",
    "Exposure duration and other dosimetry details (e.g., SAR, distance, field strength) not reported",
    "Animal model; generalizability to humans uncertain",
    "Temperature outcomes only; no clinical endpoints reported"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "microwave therapy",
    "2450 MHz",
    "continuous-wave",
    "titanium alloy implant",
    "internal fixation plate",
    "rabbit model",
    "muscle temperature",
    "thermal effects"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.2,
      "reason": "Involves microwave exposure, but in a therapeutic/experimental setting rather than occupational; hub match is weak."
    }
  ]
}
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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: 10.1186/1471-2474-14-364
PubMed: 24365389

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