Efficacy of electrical stimulation for spinal fusion: a meta-analysis of fusion rate

21 studies (including 7 randomized controlled trials [RCTs]) were included in this analysis to assess the effects of three different electrical stimulation techniques on fusion rates following spinal fusion surgery. The results of this meta-analysis displayed that the pooled fusion rates between direct current, inductive coupling and capacitive coupling electrical stimulation techniques were comparable between the three methods. Subgroup analysis suggested that age, sex, smoking status, surgery type, fusion levels, fusion column, implant use, and graft type did not significantly influence the fusion rates.