JAAOS sign up for etocs now
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

J Am Acad Orthop Surg, Vol 11, No 2, March/April 2003, 81-88.
© 2003 the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Hodges, S. D.
Right arrow Articles by Humphreys, S. C.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Hodges, S. D.
Right arrow Articles by Humphreys, S. C.

Use of Electrical Bone Stimulation in Spinal Fusion

Scott D. Hodges, DO, Jason C. Eck, DO, MS and S. Craig Humphreys, MD

Dr. Hodges is Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon, Center for Sports Medicine and Orthopaedics, and Director of Research, Foundation for Research, Chattanooga, TN. Dr. Eck is Orthopaedic Surgery Intern, Memorial Hospital, York, PA, and Research Associate, Center for Sports Medicine and Orthopaedics, Foundation for Research. Dr. Humphreys is Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon, Center for Sports Medicine and Orthopaedics, Foundation for Research.

Reprint requests: Dr. Hodges, Suite 303, 605 Glenwood Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 30404.

Spinal fusion is commonly done to manage deformity, restore stability, and eliminate excessive motion at specific spinal levels. Pseudarthrosis limits the clinical success of spinal fusion. Three types of electrical stimulation, which is used to manage non-union in long bones, recently have been applied in an attempt to enhance the rate of spinal fusion. Direct current electrical stimulation is internal and thus eliminates dependence on patient compliance. Pulsed electromagnetic fields and capacitively coupled electrical stimulation are external techniques that require patient compliance but do not have the increased risk associated with implantable devices. Firm conclusions about efficacy are difficult to establish because of inconsistencies in both determining a reliable, reproducible end point for fusion and in incorporating the effect of patient parameters. Most data indicate a positive effect for use of direct current stimulation, but further studies are necessary to determine its appropriateness as an adjuvant to spinal fusion.






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2003 by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.