Fracture healing happens naturally in most bone break cases. Occasionally prolongation of restoration period or non-union of the fracture may occur, where electrical stimulation has been shown to facilitate bone restoration by stimulating osteoblasts. Despite clinical use, a comprehensive computational model linking the applied currents to the stimulating field in the fracture has been missing. In this paper, we investigate the input current needed to stimulate osteoblasts in a fracture in the human forearm. Optimal current is computed for various fracture configurations, and sensitivity to frequency and inter/intrapersonal variance in dielectric properties are analyzed. Stimulation thresholds at the fracture site are based on detailed review of experimental studies. Our results show that for a 1 mm thick 30° fracture with a 15 Hz sinusoidal field, the input current amounts to a maximum of 3.77 µA. Minimum and maximum required current levels are plotted versus fracture parameters, all of which comply with the ICNIRP standard. Simulation results are supported by several experimental reports. Our model is useful for understanding the effects of various geometrical and electrical factors on clinical outcome, and serves as a theoretical aid in the design of more efficient systems. Bioelectromagnetics. 40:128-135, 2019. © 2019 Bioelectromagnetics Society.

中文翻译：

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用于电刺激骨折修复的最佳电流：一种计算分析，包括频率，组织特性和骨折形态的变化。

在大多数骨折病例中，骨折愈合自然发生。偶尔会出现恢复期延长或骨折不愈合的情况，其中已证明电刺激可通过刺激成骨细胞促进骨修复。尽管有临床用途，但是缺少将施加的电流与骨折中的刺激场联系起来的综合计算模型。在本文中，我们研究了刺激人类前臂骨折中成骨细胞所需的输入电流。计算各种断裂构造的最佳电流，并分析对频率和介电特性的人际/人际差异的敏感性。骨折部位的刺激阈值基于对实验研究的详细审查。我们的结果表明，对于1毫米厚的30°裂缝和15 Hz正弦场，输入电流最大为3.77 µA。绘制了最小和最大所需电流水平与断裂参数的关系图，所有这些参数均符合ICNIRP标准。仿真结果得到了一些实验报告的支持。我们的模型对于理解各种几何和电学因素对临床结果的影响很有用，并且在设计更有效的系统方面提供了理论上的帮助。生物电磁学。40：128-135，2019.©2019生物电磁学会。我们的模型可用于了解各种几何和电因素对临床结果的影响，并在设计更高效的系统中提供理论帮助。生物电磁学。40：128-135，2019.©2019生物电磁学会。我们的模型可用于了解各种几何和电因素对临床结果的影响，并在设计更高效的系统中提供理论帮助。生物电磁学。40：128-135，2019.©2019生物电磁学会。