Extremely small-magnitude accelerations enhance bone regeneration: A preliminary study

Soon Jung Hwang, Svetlana Lublinsky, Young Kwon Seo, In Sook Kim, Stefan Judex

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

39 Scopus citations

Abstract

High-frequency, low-magnitude accelerations can be anabolic and anticatabolic to bone. We tested the hypothesis that application of these mechanical signals can accelerate bone regeneration in scaffolded and nonscaffolded calvarial defects. The cranium of experimental rats (n = 8) in which the 5-mm bilateral defects either contained a collagen scaffold or were left empty received oscillatory accelerations (45 Hz, 0.4 g) for 20 minutes per day for 3 weeks. Compared with scaffolded defects in the untreated control group (n = 6), defects with a scaffold and subject to oscillatory accelerations had a 265% greater fractional bone defect area 4 weeks after the surgery. After 8 weeks of healing (1-week recovery, 3 weeks of stimulation, 4 weeks without stimulation), the area (181%), volume (137%), and thickness (53%) of the regenerating tissue in the scaffolded defect were greater in experimental than in control animals. In unscaffolded defects, mechanical stimulation induced an 84% greater bone volume and a 33% greater thickness in the defect. These data provide preliminary evidence that extremely low-level, high-frequency accelerations can enhance osseous regenerative processes, particularly in the presence of a supporting scaffold.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1083-1091
Number of pages9
JournalClinical Orthopaedics and Related Research
Volume467
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2009
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

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