Bone mass is preserved in a critical-sized osteotomy by low energy pulsed electromagnetic fields as quantitated by in vivo micro-computed tomography.
The effectiveness of non-invasive pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) on stimulating bone formation in vivo to augment fracture healing is still controversial, largely because of technical ambiguities in data interpretation within several previous studies. To address this uncertainty, we implemented a rigorously controlled, blinded protocol using a bilateral, mid-diaphyseal fibular osteotomy model in aged rats that achieved a non-union status within 3-4 weeks post-surgery. Bilateral osteotomies allowed delivery of a PEMF treatment protocol on one hind limb, with the contralateral limb representing a within-animal sham-treatment. Bone volumes in both PEMF-treated and sham-treated fibulae were assessed simultaneously in vivo using highly sensitive, high-resolution micro-computed tomography (microCT) over the course of treatment. We found a significant reduction in the amount of time-dependent bone volume loss in PEMF-treated, distal fibular segments as compared to their contralateral sham-treated bones. Osteotomy gap size was significantly smaller in hind limbs exposed to PEMF over sham-treatment. Therefore, our data demonstrate measurable biological consequences of PEMF exposure on in vivo bone tissue.
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lerner Research Institute of The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, ND20, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
Michael O
MO
Ibiwoye
Kimerly A
KA
Powell
Mark D
MD
Grabiner
Thomas E
TE
Patterson
Yoshitada
Y
Sakai
Maciej
M
Zborowski
Alan
A
Wolfman
Ronald J
RJ
Midura
D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D015519:Bone Density; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D017102:Fracture Healing; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D010012:Osteogenesis; D010027:Osteotomy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed