Effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields on bone fractures: a systematic review update.
Alessandro Picelli, Rita DI Censo, Sofia Tomasello and 4 others
PMID 39387850WHAT IT FOUND
Pulsed electromagnetic fields did not significantly speed up bone healing in acute fractures.
Evidence for pain reduction and functional recovery is contradictory and based on very few studies. Current data does not support using this therapy to improve fracture healing.
Key findings
01None of the included studies found significant effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields on the acute bone fracture healing process.
02Results regarding the effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields on pain and functional recovery were contradictory across the studies.
03The review included only three randomized controlled trials with a total of 197 patients, limiting the certainty of the conclusions.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The review included only three randomized controlled trials with a small total sample size of 197 patients. There was significant heterogeneity in the types of fractures studied (femur, scaphoid, mandible) and the intervention protocols used. One of the included studies had a high risk of bias. The authors did not perform a meta-analysis due to the scant amount of data. There is a potential risk of publication bias given the limited number of available studies.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the significant pain reduction or functional gains reported in individual studies as proof of efficacy. These were secondary outcomes in a review where the primary outcome (healing) was null, and the results were contradictory across the few small trials included.