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Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Bone Growth Stimulation Improves Union Outcomes in Type II Odontoid Fractures: Insights
Alejandro Enriquez-Marulanda1,2, Naveen Arunachalam Sakthiyendran1,2, Jimena Gonzalez-Salido1
1Division of Neurosurgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 110 Francis St. Suite 3B, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
Study Design:
Retrospective multicenter cohort study.
Background:
Type II odontoid fractures (TTOFs) are common in older adults. Surgical fixation increases union but carries surgical risk, while external immobilization avoids surgical risk but has variable union rates. Pulsed electromagnetic field-based bone growth stimulation (Bone-Stim) is a noninvasive and collar compatible adjunct that has not previously been tested in patients with TTOFs.
Objective:
To compare radiographic and clinical outcomes of TTOF patients treated with and without adjunct Bone-Stim.
Methods:
A retrospective cohort of adult patients with TTOFs at two centers (2014-2024) was studied. Patients with pathologic fractures, prior C1-2 union, emergent stabilization, in-hospital death before follow-up imaging, or no post-index imaging were excluded. Primary outcome of interest was radiographic fracture union. Secondary outcomes included pain, modified Rankin Scale score, complications, and mortality. Propensity-score matching (up-to 2:1, nearest neighbor, no replacement) balanced multiple factors, including age, gender, smoking, frailty, osteoporosis, and fracture displacement.
Results:
Among 321 patients (median age 80; 51.7% women), 281 (87.5%) were managed with external immobilization and 40 (12.5%) underwent surgical fixation. Bone-stim was used in 20 patients (6.2%), including 19 managed with external immobilization and 1 treated with surgical fixation. In the unmatched cohort, fracture union was higher with vs without Bone-Stim (65% vs. 13.7%; P<0.01). In the matched cohort (n=48; 19 with and 29 without Bone-stim), union remained higher with Bone-Stim (68.4% vs. 13%; P<0.01). Delayed conversion to surgery occurred only without Bone-Stim (3 cases). Pain, mRS, complications, and mortality did not differ significantly in the cohorts.
Conclusions:
In patients with TTOFs, adjunct Bone-Stim was associated with higher radiographic union without worse symptoms or complications, while retaining mobility. A larger prospective, adherence-tracked study with standardized follow-up is needed to validate efficacy, refine patient selection, and optimize treatment protocols.
