SynthesisScientific reports2016
Efficacy of Electrical Stimulators for Bone Healing: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Sham-Controlled Trials.
Synthesis in Scientific reports, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 47 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled 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.
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.
Who cites it
47 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Low intensity pulsed ultrasound for bone healing: systematic review of randomized controlled trials.BMJ (Clinical research ed.) · 2017Pooled it
- Thromboprophylactic Efficacy and Safety of Anticoagulants After Arthroscopic Knee Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Clinical and applied thrombosis/hemostasis : official journal of the International Academy of Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/HemostasisPooled it
- Use of Biophysical Stimulation Therapy in Surgically Treated Acute Scaphoid Fractures.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2026Article
- Electrical Stimulation Directs Formation of Perfused Vasculature in Engineered Tissues.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2026Article
- Atrophic Long-Bone Non-Union: Current Insights into Pathogenesis and Management-A Narrative Review.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Review
- Advances of piezoelectric biomaterials in bone defect repair: The role of direct and inverse piezoelectric effect.Journal of orthopaedic translation · 2026Review
- Effect of belt electrode-skeletal muscle electrical stimulation on fracture healing in a rat femoral fracture model.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2026Article
- Clinical Applications of Biophysical Stimuli Technologies for Bone Healing.Annals of biomedical engineering · 2026Review
- Smart biomaterials for skeletal aging repair and regeneration.Bone research · 2026Review
- Article
- Technology behind augmenting fracture healing.Bulletin of the Hospital for Joint Disease (2013) · 2025Review
- Modern Approaches and Emerging Biological Therapies to Treat Fracture Nonunion.Pharmaceutics · 2025Review
- Enhancing Bone Health with Conjugated Linoleic Acid: Mechanisms, Challenges, and Innovative Strategies.Nutrients · 2025Review
- Augmentation of Deficient Bone Healing by Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields-From Mechanisms to Clinical Outcomes.Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Review
- Stimuli-responsive microcarriers and their application in tissue repair: A review of magnetic and electroactive microcarrier.Bioactive materials · 2024Review
- Emerging 2D Nanomaterials-Integrated Hydrogels: Advancements in Designing Theragenerative Materials for Bone Regeneration and Disease Therapy.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2024Review
- Osteo-inductive effect of piezoelectric stimulation from the poly(l-lactic acid) scaffolds.PloS one · 2024Article
- Article
- Combined electric and magnetic field therapy for bone repair and regeneration: an investigation in a 3-mm and an augmented 17-mm tibia osteotomy model in sheep.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2023Article
- Hydroxyapatite-filled osteoinductive and piezoelectric nanofibers for bone tissue engineering.Science and technology of advanced materials · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Electrical stimulation is a common adjunct used to promote bone healing; its efficacy, however, remains uncertain. We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized sham-controlled trials to establish the efficacy of electrical stimulation for bone healing. We identified all trials randomizing patients to electrical or sham stimulation for bone healing. Outcomes were pain relief, functional improvement, and radiographic nonunion. Two reviewers assessed eligibility and risk of bias, performed data extraction, and rated the quality of the evidence. Fifteen trials met our inclusion criteria. Moderate quality evidence from 4 trials found that stimulation produced a significant improvement in pain (mean difference (MD) on 100-millimeter visual analogue scale = -7.7 mm; 95% CI -13.92 to -1.43; p = 0.02). Two trials found no difference in functional outcome (MD = -0.88; 95% CI -6.63 to 4.87; p = 0.76). Moderate quality evidence from 15 trials found that stimulation reduced radiographic nonunion rates by 35% (95% CI 19% to 47%; number needed to treat = 7; p < 0.01). Patients treated with electrical stimulation as an adjunct for bone healing have less pain and are at reduced risk for radiographic nonunion; functional outcome data are limited and requires increased focus in future trials.
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Registered trials
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.