title: Effect of electric current stimulation in combination with external fixator on bone healing in a sheep fracture model.
abstract: Biophysical stimulations with electric and electromagnetic fields have been demonstrated to accelerate the bone-healing rate. This study has been designed to investigate the effects of electricity directly connected with the central pins of an external fixator in an experimental osteotomy model in sheep. Thirty mg/kg of tetracycline chloride were administered on the 30th and on the 45th day after surgery for histomorphometric studies. Plain radiographs were obtained in standard projections every 15 days after surgery and were analyzed with a software program (Corel Photo-Paint Pro X2, Corel Corporation, Ottawa, Canada). The specimens obtained after 60 days were examined with histological analysis. The results show that biophysical treatment with alternating electricity in combination with external fixator enhances new-bone formation. The translational value of this study, due to the similarities between ovine and human species, suggests that this treatment could be useful in speeding the bone-healing rate both in animals and humans.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Chirurgica Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Piazza A. Moro 45, 64100 Teramo, Italy.
authors.forename: Aurelio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muttini
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abate
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bernabò
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cavani
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mingozzi
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tosi
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cadossi
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Setti
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giannini
authors.forename: Rocco
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Valbonetti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D016267:External Fixators; D005592:Fracture Fixation; D017102:Fracture Healing; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000628:therapy*; D012756:Sheep