Publication Article

Medizinisch-Orthopadische Technik (Medical-Orthopedic Techniques)

"Conservative Treatment of 240 Patients with Magnetic Field Therapy." March/April 1976, Issue 2, page 78.

By M. Schroter

Summary:

Magnetic field therapy (MFT) is a clear therapeutic gain in conservatively oriented therapeutics.  By no means does it constitute an alternative solution to other forms of therapy, but it has become an established component in the entire treatment spectrum of orthopedics.  The indications and results are presented briefly.

The following data relate to a group of 240 patients treated with magnetic field therapy in a conservative orthopedic practice.  Any secondary treatment by medication was dropped in 90% of the cases treated with MFT in order not to obscure the therapeutic success, if any.  However, in two of Morbus Bechterew's cases, aged 24 and 27, Indometacin was applied.  After about 50 sessions of MFT, we discontinued the medication, following gradual reduction, over time, of the daily dose.

The daily sessions of magnetic field therapy were about 1 hour long.  Major changes in frequency and intensity were avoided.

Presented here are the results achieved on the affected areas of the body, based on subjective accounts by patients, evaluation of X-ray pictures, and increased functionality and/or ability to take pressure.

By the nature of conservative orthopedic practice, empirical results indicating the success, or otherwise, of a therapy, are primarily gained through comments by the patients and cannot be readily standardized.  Therefore the following presentation does not aim at meeting the strict scientific requirements of rigid documentation.  Rather, it is the result of a synopsis of symptoms and parameters, which indicate the success of magnetic field therapy application in individual cases.

The following indicators were registered and used in the assessment:

Decrease of pain, increase in functionality and ability to take pressure, disappearance of swelling and pathological skin coloration, lack of need for orthopedic devices, even reaction to changes in the weather and subjective comments on the progress during therapy.

We loosely grouped the indications in accordance with the test results.

The following types of illnesses were treated:

1.  Degenerative illnesses of the ambulatory apparatus (arthritis, chondropathic illnesses, degenerative illnesses of the vertebral column).

2.  Rheumatic illnesses (Bechterew, pcF** of small and big joints, synovitis).

3.  Delayed healing process in bones and pseudo-arthritis (some involving infections).

4.  Newly broken bones.

5.  Aspetic necrosis of the bones (predominantly Perthes' disease).

6.  Loosened full endo-protheses.

7.  Venal and arterial circulation disturbances, Sudeck syndrome in all stages.

8.  Osteo-chondritis dissecans in a variety of joints.

9.  Osteomyelitis.

10.  Distortions and bruises.

Summing up all cases ranging from slight improvement to complete restoration of health, the success rate approaches 80% of patients who underwent magnetic field therapy.  However, the results vary in accordance with the individual field of indication.

There are unambiguously positive results, proven by X-ray documentation in the following areas:  delayed healing processes in bones, newly broken bones and osteochondritis.  Upon application of magnetic field therapy, reformation of cartilage and bone tissue is greatly accelerated compared to the normal healing process.

A substantial alleviation of complaints has been achieved in degenerative illnesses of the joints.  We were able to observe the reformation of cartilage/bone tissue in one case of destructive detritus-carrying cyst of the upper acetabular area of the hip joint, including reformation of the joint cleft.  In about 60% of loosened endo-protheses of the hip joint, relief was achieved, particularly the ability to walk without a walking aid.  In almost all cases, by means of X-ray, a seam of absorption was found which continued after magnetic field therapy ceased.

Relatively swift and astonishing success was achieved in pcP* joints which had swelling of the soft tissue, reddening, pain and inhibited functionality.  Even cases of Heberden syndrome, which had been established for many years, showed positive results.

We were able to observe accelerated absorption and regression of haematoma in contusions and distortions.  We observed a decrease of multi-faceted symptoms in situations ranging from varicose symptoms with trophic changes of the skin, to recidivous ulcera cruris.

In cases of arterial circulation disturbances we relied completely on the subjective comments of patients, as we did not conduct any arteriography after the magnetic field therapy.  In one case of diabetes-based gangrenous development in all toes, a proposed amputation was avoided after a series of 30 treatments with MFT.  Subsequently, a complete recovery of the arteno-venous supply of the toes was achieved.

One complete reformation of the articulator head of the hip was achieved in the case of M. Perthes, albeit by concurrently reducing weight pressure on the joint concerned.

Summing up, we MFT unambiguously to be a gain in the range of therapeutic options, despite the critical and reserved attitude with which the trial was initially approached.  By all means, it is not a replacement for other forms of therapy.  Rather, it has proven to be a useful supplementary treatment in the therapeutic framework well established in ortopedic practice.

(Original language-German)*