title: The clinical and radiological outcome of pulsed electromagnetic field treatment for acute scaphoid fractures: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled multicentre trial.
abstract: The use of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF)   to stimulate bone growth has been recommended as an alternative to   the surgical treatment of ununited scaphoid fractures, but has never   been examined in acute fractures. We hypothesised that the use of   PEMF in acute scaphoid fractures would accelerate the time to union   by 30% in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre   trial. A total of 53 patients in three different medical centres   with a unilateral undisplaced acute scaphoid fracture were randomly   assigned to receive either treatment with PEMF (n = 24) or a placebo   (n = 29). The clinical and radiological outcomes were assessed at   four, six, nine, 12, 24 and 52 weeks. A log-rank analysis showed that neither time to clinical and   radiological union nor the functional outcome differed significantly   between the groups. The clinical assessment of union indicated that   at six weeks tenderness in the anatomic snuffbox (p = 0.03) as well   as tenderness on longitudinal compression of the scaphoid (p = 0.008) differed   significantly in favour of the placebo group. We conclude that stimulation of bone growth by PEMF has no additional   value in the conservative treatment of acute scaphoid fractures.
authors.affiliation: Maastricht University Medical Centre, Department of Surgery, PO Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands. pfwhannemann@gmail.com
authors.forename: P F W
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Hannemann
authors.forename: K W A
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Göttgens
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: van Wely
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kolkman
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Werre
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Poeze
authors.forename: P R G
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Brink
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002370:Casts, Surgical; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000528:radiation effects*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D055909:Magnetic Field Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D021361:Scaphoid Bone / Q000293:injuries*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult