Bone Growth Stimulator

Our bones are actually living tissues which have the ability to heal themselves. Though this process takes place naturally, there are times wherein bones do require some stimulation to speed up their growth. When an individual is recovering from a fracture or undergoing spinal fusion recovery, the speed at which the bone grows does deteriorate to some extent. In such circumstances, a bone growth stimulator, can be quite helpful in enhancing the growth of the affected bone. Also known as bone stimulator, this medical equipment delivers electric current or ultrasound waves to the bone, to stimulate the osteoblastic function, which causes new bone cells to grow. Studies have revealed that use of bone growth stimulator also boosts bone morphogenic proteins, which are essential for the formation of new bone cells.

Electrical Bone Growth Stimulator
Electrical bone growth stimulator is a medical equipment predominantly used to treat fractures which don't show any progressive signs of healing, as suggested by both clinical and radiological evidence. There are basically three types of electrical bone growth stimulator - invasive bone growth stimulator, semi invasive bone growth stimulator and non invasive bone growth stimulator. Among the three, invasive and semi invasive equipment use electrode implants to deliver direct current internally to the bone, whereas non invasive equipment deliver direct current by the means of externally mounted cathodes. Even though these stimulator use electrical currents to stimulate bone growth they are not at all painful for the patient.

Ultrasound Bone Growth Stimulator
Ultrasound bone growth stimulator, also referred to as the Ultrasonic Accelerated Fracture or Sonic Accelerated Fracture Healing System (SAFHS), is an equipment which uses low-intensity, pulsed ultrasound to heal the fracture by stimulating bone growth. This equipment which has its uses in the orthopedics, consists of two components, a small transducer, and a signal generator to power it. The transducer is applied to the skin surface, exactly above the fracture, to administer low-intensity, pulsed ultrasound. The pressure sound waves emitted by these ultrasound equipment is known to produce micro-mechanical stress and strain, which causes biochemical alterations at the cellular level and eventually results in enhanced bone formation. This fact is particularly helpful for patient's recovering from any of the different type of bone fractures.

Bone Growth Stimulator Side Effects
The side effects of bone growth stimulator to a large extent depend on individual's health. Bone is quite susceptible to radiation damage in the human body, second only to blood. Taking this into consideration, excessive radiation can lead to some adverse effects on the bone, and even hamper its proper growth, by damaging the cells. Secondly, artificial stimulation is quite unpredictable, which can result in some abnormalities, like the bone spurs, and aggravate the problem.

Not all the medical cases are similar, and hence, you are bound to notice quite a few differences in two patients undergoing bone growth stimulation. Internal bone growth stimulator is implanted by a surgical process permanently, whereas external bone stimulator has to be worn by the patient for a specific period, normally ranging from 3 months to a year. Bone growth stimulator cost depends on several factors, including type and company you opt for. However, those devices with a higher end price tag are indeed cost-effective, as they reduce the anticipated recovery period by a considerable margin.