[Indications and clinical results of electromagnetically-induced alternating current stimulation of poorly reacting pseudarthroses]. / Indikation und klinische Ergebnisse der elektromagnetisch induzierten Wechselstromstimulation reaktionsarmer Pseudarthrosen.

ABSTRACT

The authors present first results of clinical application of electromagnetically induced alternating-current voltage in 37 pseudarthroses showing poor reaction. The pseudarthroses had been persisting for two years on an average, the clinical pre-treatment time was seven months, the number of preceding operations was 2.76, eleven patients had been already operated by us one or several times without electric stimulation. Most of the pseudarthroses were contaminated; they were treated by sequestrotomy and immediate fixation with plate or marrow nail and autologous spongiosa graft. The alternating-current carrier was implanted in the bone with two electrodes each. When the wound was healed, the induction of alternating current was continued at home with a loan apparatus for three times 45 minutes to three times 2 hours daily. The electric treatment was performed during 6.7 months, the ossification was finished after 4.7 months, and the lower extremity could be fully loaded after five months. The recovery rate after one single operation is 89.2%. Repeated operations included, the total rate of recovery is 97.3%, no amputations. The review of literature shows that the method is favorable as to the stationary treatment time, the number of necessary surgical interventions, and the number of amputations.