Spontaneous Bone Marrow Edema of the Knee: The Role of Biophysical Treatment with Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields

32 patients with symptomatic bone marrow edema (BME) of the knee were randomized to receive either biophysical treatment through pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) or no intervention. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of PEMF on the lesion area and in terms of pain and function. Pain, function, quality of life, area of bone marrow lesion and Whole-Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score (WORMS) of the lesion were assessed up to 12 months following treatment. Among the group allocated to PEMF intervention, significant reduction in pain and improvement in patient-reported outcome measures from baseline was noted. Additionally, MRI evaluations indicated a significant reduction in the size of the lesion area from pre-treatment to 6-month follow-up, along with reduced WORM grading.