The Effect of Low Frequency Pulsing Electromagnetic Fields for the Treatment of Congenital and Acquired Pseudoarthroses: the Italian Group for the Study of the Effects of LFPEFs in Orthopaedics

Abstract

The Authors report the results of the First Italian Multi-center Study Group evaluation of the efficacy of Low Frequency Pulsing Electromagnetic Fields (LFPEFs) for the treatment of congenital and acquired pseudoarthroses and of delayed unions. 153 patients have been treated since 1978. the success rate has been 86 %. With the technique used, unlike the results reported by other researchers, the formation of solid periosteal bone callus during the pseudoarthrosis consolidation process was observed. the LFPEF treatment seems to be capable of triggering the repair process rather than shortening the treatment time. During the first three months of stimulation significant changes in the morphology of the X-ray picture of the pseudoarthrosis are noticeable. the clinical implications of these observations are discussed.