Electrical stimulation to promote the union of fractures

The object of this study was to investigate the effect of electrical stimulation on recent fractures and in established nonunion, using an electrical stimulator of my own design. Fresh osteotomies of the fibula in rabbits were treated with a direct current of 20 microA; there was no reduction of healing time. Then, 62 patients with various types of nonunion, all of more than 9 months duration, were treated. They included patients with osteomyelitis (30%), atrophic (67%) and hypertrophic (33%) nonunion. Electrical stimulation alone was used in 34 patients but 30 needed additional operative treatment. Bony union was achieved in 58 patients (91%), confirming the theoretical proposition that DC current is effective in stimulating osteogenesis in nonunion. This form of treatment is effective, simple and safe; it can be used after the failure of repeated operations for nonunion.