Effect of a static magnetic field on fracture healing in a rabbit radius. Preliminary results.

To ascertain what effect a static magnetic force has on a healing fracture, samarium cobalt magnets were implanted adjacent to induced radial fractures in adult rabbits. A magnetic field of 220-260 G was generated at the fracture site. The radii were allowed to heal for four weeks and the contralateral fractured bones acted as controls. Healing bone units were assessed microscopically and mechanically. Significantly greater forces (p less than 0.01) were required to break those bone units exposed to magnetic fields. However, no significant difference was found when comparing the longitudinal midcallus areas from magnetized and nonmagnetized limbs.