Temporal course of bone formation in response to constant direct current stimulation.

Reactive, post-traumatic bone formation in response to intramedullary insertion of a polytetrafluorethylene-coated, 28 gauge stainless steel wire was compared with the sequential bone formation seen in response to an identical intramedullary stainless steel cathode delivering 20 microA constant direct current. Animals were studied at days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 14, 17, and 21 after wire insertion. Point count analysis revealed progressive bone formation beginning as early as day 3 on the constant direct current-stimulated side, progressing steadily through day 21. Control tibia, however, began to show bone formation on day 5 with peaking at day 9 and subsequent bone resorption. The osteogenic response at the 20 microA cathode was statistically elevated above that seen at the control on days 11, 17, and 21.