Bone healing with electric current: a histological assessment

Abstract

Skeletal relapse is a major concern after correction of retrognathism with surgical mandibular advancement. It was hypothesized that the stimulation from a direct electric current can accelerate the osseous repair through the enhancement of the maturation of fibrocartilage. Furthermore, this stimulation may enhance the mechanical properties of the facial osteotomy site and reduce the skeletal relapse. The purpose of the present study was to examine the osteotomy site histologically and determine the effect of post-surgical electrical stimulation on the healing of a facial osteotomy site in a rat model. Three groups of adult male Sprague–Dawley rats, 15 in each group (direct electric current, electric sham, and control), were used to generate data. Electrodes were placed in both the direct electric current and the electric sham groups. A 20-μA direct current was delivered to the osteotomy site only in the direct electric current group. Histological slides of the osteotomy site for each animal were prepared and interpreted to characterize the healing process of the osteotomy site for each animal. The results showed no statistically significant difference among the three groups of animals (p>0.005). An examination with histology earlier in the healing process and the utilization of an experimental animal with a larger jaw are suggested for any further investigation that involves electrical stimulation and osseous healing in a facial osteotomy site.