Do Capactively Coupled Electric Fields Accelerate Tibial Stress Fracture Healing

Abstract

A convenience sample based on availability of tibial stress fracture cases at local Sports Medicine Clinics was selected. The study was designed to determine if electric field stimulation accelerates the healing of tibial stress fracture and whether there are gender effects. Only posteromedial mid to distal third and proximal medial tibial condylar stress fractures were investigated. Four imaging examinations were performed at diagnosis (radiographs, bone scan, MRI and CT). All subjects were treated identically in a double blind fashion using active or passive electric field stimulator devices (active units apply a sinusoidal wave of 3-6 V, 60 KHz, 5-10 mA), worn 15-20 hours per day, and other standardized rehabilitation treatments, until healed but not longer than 6 months. Subjects were considered healed when hopping on the affected limb was longer painful. A second MRI examination was performed for follow-up comparison. A grading system is being developed for each of the diagnostic methods and the ability of the MRI grading system is being assessed to predict time to recovery.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 2005
Accession Number
ADA459781

Entities

People

  • Andrew R. Hoffman
  • Belinda Beck
  • Gabrielle Bergman
  • Gordon Matheson

Organizations

  • Stanford University

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Availability
  • Biomedical Research
  • Bone Fractures
  • Data Analysis
  • Data Sets
  • Department Of Defense
  • Diagnostic Imaging
  • Electric Fields
  • Electronic Mail
  • Imaging Techniques
  • Information Operations
  • Medical Personnel
  • Neuromuscular Diseases
  • Nuclear Medicine
  • Physicians
  • Universities

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

  • Materials Science (Mechanical Engineering).
  • Medical Imaging.
  • Trauma Surgery or Emergency Medicine.