Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 19, 2026
09:02
Cortical Bone Assessment Using Ultrasonic Guided Waves: A Reproducibility Study in a Healthy Population
Published on: January 31, 2025
1.7K
Radiofrequency energy on cortical bone and soft tissue: a pilot study
Maria Menendez1, Akikazu Ishihara, Stephen Weisbrode
1Comparative Orthopaedic Research Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Ohio State University, 601 Tharp Street, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research
|November 6, 2009
Summary
Radiofrequency energy effectively achieves hemostasis in skin and bone. Higher energy levels on skin can cause necrosis, while bone tolerates higher doses without damage, informing clinical applications.
Area of Science:
- Musculoskeletal procedures
- Biomedical engineering
- Surgical innovation
Background:
- Radiofrequency (RF) energy devices are used in musculoskeletal procedures for hemostasis and capsular shrinkage.
- The precise dose-effects of RF energy on tissues are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the dosage effects of radiofrequency energy on bone, skin incisions, and joint capsule.
- To evaluate RF energy's impact on hemostasis, contraction, healing, inflammation, and necrosis in a preclinical model.
Main Methods:
- Utilized five mature sheep with surgically created tibial periosteal defects and skin incisions.
- Applied varying doses of RF energy (fluence: watts x seconds/cm²) to tissues.
- Assessed outcomes including hemostasis, contraction, healing, and histomorphometry at two weeks post-application.
Main Results:
- RF energy at 190f or greater achieved >80% hemostasis on skin, with dose-dependent contraction, inflammation, and necrosis.
- RF energy provided 70% hemostasis at 190f on bone, and >95% hemostasis at 380f and 570f.
- No significant necrosis was observed in bone tissues treated with RF energy up to 570f.
Conclusions:
- Radiofrequency energy is effective for achieving hemostasis in both skin and bone tissues at 190f.
- Bone tissue demonstrates a high tolerance to RF energy, with no necrosis detected even at 570f.
- Clinical application of RF energy on skin requires careful consideration of potential complications like necrosis and tissue desiccation at fluences exceeding 190f.
