Evidence map›Paper›PMID 25876224›Full record

Trial reportInternational orthopaedics2015

Application of pulsed electromagnetic fields after microfractures to the knee: a mid-term study.

Leonardo Osti, Angelo Del Buono, Nicola Maffulli

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in International orthopaedics, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Stimulation of Bone Healing and Joint Preservation: Cellular Mechanisms of Skeletal Response.Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Global research & reviews · 2020
    Review
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Knee cartilage defect: marrow stimulating techniques.Current reviews in musculoskeletal medicine · 2015
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Leonardo OstiUnit of Arthroscopy and Sports Trauma Surgery, Hesperia Hospital, Via Arquà 80/b, Modena, Italy, leonardoosti@yahoo.com.
Angelo Del Buono
Nicola Maffulli

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposePulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) may improve clinical outcomes following microfractures and prevent their decline over time.

methodsSixty-eight patients who underwent partial medial meniscectomy and microfractures to the medial femoral condyle for management of grade III-IV cartilage lesions were randomly divided into two groups using a block randomization procedure. After surgery, 34 patients underwent PEMFs application in the I-ONE group; 34 patients underwent placebo treatment in the placebo group. All patients had the same postoperative rehabilitation protocol. Sixty patients (28 in the I-ONE group, 32 in the placebo group) were assessed at an intermediate follow-up of two years and a minimum follow-up of five years after surgery.

resultsThe two groups were homogeneous. There was a significant improvement from baseline to the last minimum follow up of two years. At two years, IKDC and Lysholm and Constant scores were significantly improved compared to baseline in both groups with no significant inter-group differences. At the last follow up (minimum five years), clinical and functional outcomes were decreased in both the groups, with significant better outcomes in the I-ONE group. At five years, the percentage of patients still active at the same level they were pre-operatively was greater in the I-ONE group (82% vs 68%, P = 0.28). At radiographic assessment, at the latest evaluation, six patients (21.4%) in the I-ONE group and nine (28.1%) in the placebo group demonstrated grade I-II degenerative changes according to Fairbank grading system (Χ = 0.36, P = 0.55).

conclusionsPEMFs application can improve the effectiveness of microfracture in the long term.

Indexed as

Tibial Meniscus InjuriesAdultArthroscopyCartilageFemaleFollow-Up StudiesFractures, CartilageHumansKnee InjuriesKnee JointMagnetic Field TherapyMaleMenisci, TibialMiddle AgedTreatment OutcomeYoung Adult

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.