Bone Growth Stimulators Promote Healing



Posted: Thursday, December 07, 2006

by Mitchell Reiff
Recovery Medical Supply

Electrical bone growth stimulators are a supplemental form of the rapy to help enhance the body’s bone healing process, a process that is absolutely essential for the success of any type of fusion surgery.

Between 5 and 10 percent of the nearly 6 million fractures that occur annually in the United States show delayed or impaired healing. Since mid century, researchers have studied the electrical properties of bone healing. This research has spurred the development of technology that promotes the healing of nonunion fractures, such as bone growth stimulators.

External bone growth stimulators can use electromagnetic fields or ultrasound. Devices that use electromagnetic fields can employ pulse electromagnetic fields (PEMF) or combined electromagnetic fields (CMF). Devices that use PEMF typically use external coils that are placed outside the tissue of the fracture site. The coils produce a time-varying magnetic field that induces an electric field in the tissue. Devices that use CMF use two external coiled-copper transducers to create two parallel low-energy magnetic fields.

Bone growth stimulators can also use ultrasonic waves to promote bone growth. Ultrasound is high frequency sonic pressure waves. These devices are strapped over the fracture site or fitted into a cast and emit low-intensity, pulsed ultrasound. The exact mechanism through which ultrasound stimulates bone healing is unknown, though the re is speculation that ultrasound pulses may stimulate cartilage-related gene expression.

A bone growth stimulator that uses PEMF technology is the Physio-Stim Lite ™ from Orthofix. For CMF devices, Regentec offers the OL1000 Bone Growth Stimulator and Depuy Spine offers the SpinaLogic® Bone Growth Stimulator. Exogen offers the Exogen 2000+, or Sonic Accelerated Fracture Healing System, which uses ultrasound.

The Physio-Stim Lite by Orthofix has been proven to enhance healing by as much as 88% and can be worn over a cast, external fixator, orthopedic brace, or clothing without lessening it's effectiveness. The unit is lightweight and adjustable for a comfortable fit and is powered by a battery, which enables the unit to be portable. The minimum daily treatment time is three hours per day.

The OL1000 Bone Growth Stimulators by Regentek is also a portable, battery-powered device indicated for use in noninvasive treatment of nonunion fractures. The device is easy to use and only requires 30 minutes of use per day. However, what sets the OL1000 apart is the unit’s CMF signal, which is actually a combination of two waves: an alternating electromagnetic field superimposed in parallel over a static electromagnetic field. The frequency of the alternating electromagnetic field is exactly 76.6Hz and the amplitude is .2-.4 gauss.

The SpinaLogic Bone Growth Stimulator from Depuy Spine is a battery-powered, noninvasive device used as an adjunctive treatment for spinal fusion. The device is worn for 30 minutes each day and provides local magnetic field treatment to the fusion site. The CMF technology produces a very low energy signal that stimulates the body’s normal healing process. The SpinaLogic also contains a compliance monitor and sports one button operation for ease of use.

The EXOGEN 2000+ Low-intensity ultrasound fracture healing system from Exogen is a non-invasive device that promotes healing of nonunion or the acceleration of fresh fracture healing. Patients need only use this device for 20 minutes a day (or as prescribed by a physician).The EXOGEN 2000+ transmits a low intensity ultrasound signal to the fracture site through coupling gel. The device provides low intensity ultrasound of 30 mW/cm2. The device is composed of a main operating unit assembly with a permanently attached transducer and accessory items.

The EXOGEN 2000+ comes with two non-electrical, plastic locating components called Retaining and Alignment Fixtures (RAF). One RAF is incorporated in a strap and is used for an on-cast or non-cast application and one is available for an in-cast application. The EXOGEN 2000+ provides an ultrasound frequency of 1.5 ± 5% megahertz and a repetition rate of 1.0 ± 10% kilohertz.

With as much as 600,000 fractures in the U.S. alone showing delayed or impaired healing, the applicability of bone growth stimulators is obvious. These devices promote healing of nonunion fractures, speed healing of o the r fractures, and work as an adjunctive treatment for spinal fusion. The devices discussed here offer plentiful options for meeting the orthopedists needs.



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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)
» left by Anonymous 4 years 173 days ago.
I just got the Exogen and it hurts to use it and has left me bruised. I haven't been able to find any reasons on the net. It is because it is hitting the plate and not the bone? sooooo very frustrated.
» left by Anonymous 3 years 62 days ago.
i too hurt when using but was explained bc its stim growth, the healing process thats layed dormant is now in progress, so with blood now flowing and osteos growing, pain will occur w/healing. makes sense...keep using it it works!
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