Effect of pulsed electromagnetic field on healing of mandibular fracture: a preliminary clinical study.

PURPOSE The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a pulsed electromagnetic field on the healing of mandibular fractures. Pulsed electromagnetic fields have been shown to accelerate healing of fractures of the long bones. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 12 patients with mandibular fractures were selected for the present study. Each patient was treated by closed reduction using maxillomandibular fixation (MMF) and was assigned into 1 of 2 equal groups. The fracture sites of group A only were exposed to pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) 2 hours daily for 12 days, after 2 weeks postoperatively the MMF was removed. For group B (control group), the MMF was removed at 4 weeks postoperatively. The effectiveness of the 2 treatment modalities was evaluated clinically and radiographically using computerized densitometry. The data were statistically analyzed. RESULTS After releasing the MMF, a bimanual mobility test of the fractured segments showed stability of the segments in all cases. An insignificant difference was found between the mean bone density values of the 2 groups at all study intervals. In contrast, the percentage of changes in bone density of the 2 groups revealed that group A had insignificant decreases at the 15th postoperative day and a significant increase 30 days postoperatively compared with group B. CONCLUSIONS From the present limited series of patients, PEMF stimulation might have a beneficial effect on the healing of mandibular fractures treated with closed reduction. However, additional research, using randomized controlled trials, should be conducted to ascertain its effectiveness compared with other treatment modalities.