A Study Of Effect Of Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields On Osteogenesis In Rabbit Cranial Bone Defect

ABSTRACT

Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) was used first to induce osteogenesis in 1974. The appliance which was consisted of the Helmholtz coil configuration have used to osteogensis. The objective of this study was to determine whether PEMF, a frequency of 100 Hz and magnetic field strength of 38 gauss applied to the calvarial defect in rabbit, could affect the induction of osteogenesis and the healing of the graft bone. This field should not produce excitation of nerve or muscle and heating the tissue. To evaluate the effect of PEMF on osteogenesis, 16 rabbit under the same condition was divided into 8 experimental groups and 8 control groups. 10 mm calvarial bone defects were formed around sagittal suture. The defect of left side was left without graft while the defect of right side was grafted by bone harvested from left side. A pulsed electromagnetic field was applied for 8 hours per day. Each group was sacrificed after 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks. Microscopic specimens were obtained from the calvarial bone defects and surrounding tissue using Hematoxylin-Eosin staining method. The results were as follows. 1. In the group which pulsed electromagnetic field was applied, new bone formation filled up the defect was observed after 4 and 8 weeks effectively. 2. There are no difference in the healing period for the fusion between the bone and graft bone. According to the result, the PEMF with 38 Gauss, 100 Hz was very effective in the healing of bone defect and new bone formation. So The PEMF will be useful in clinical aspect for oseteogenesis.