Treatment of congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia with direct current.

Bone possesses a bioelectric property that is important in maintaining its structural and architectural integrity. In vivo experiments demonstrate that bone formation can be accelerated by the application of direct current. We hypothesize that bone formation occurs through an electrochemical rather than an electromechanical effect.

On electrical condution in living bone.

Despite the effectiveness of electrical currents in enhancing bone repair, there is little information in the literature on electrical parameters per se. Very little is known about the nature of the conduction mechanism or the current path between the electrodes. Without a better understanding it is difficult to establish meaningful hypotheses at the cellular level and to design relevant experimental protocols.