Electrical stimulation as an adjunct to spinal fusion: a meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials

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10 studies (5 randomized controlled trials (RCTs)) assessing the effects of electrical stimulation on bone healing following spinal fusion in comparison to a placebo or a control were identified for inclusion in this 2002 meta-analysis. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively assess the available body of evidence regarding the effect of electrical stimulation on bone healing (union) following spinal fusion. Only the 5 RCTs were included in statistical pooling of findings. The results indicated that electrical stimulation resulted in more successful fusion rates when compared to the placebo/control group. However, limited evidence was available in terms of quality and homogeneous stimulation modalities and treatment protocols, thus further high-quality RCTs are warranted to draw definitive conclusions.