To promoting effect of low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic field on postoperative rehabilitation of osteoporotic thoracolumbar fractures treated with internal fixation.

118 patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar fractures undergoing internal fixation were divided into 2 groups by a random digital table. The control group was given zoledronic acid, while the observation group was given low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic field combined with zoledronic acid. The pain degree, fracture healing time, the levels of bone density, indicators of bone metabolism and lumbar function before and after treatment were compared between the two groups.

111 patients received complete follow-up, with a follow-up rate of 94.07%. The follow-up time was 6-12 months, with an average of (9.00±1.08) months. The analysis of variance of repeated measurement design for pain scores at different time points between the observation group and the control group showed statistically significant differences between the observation group and the control group [observation group: (8.51±0.79) scores, (5.72±0.65) scores, (2.86±0.41) scores, control group: (8.96±0.91) scores, (6.38±0.72) scores, (4.77±0.53) scores] (F=12.451, P<0.001). There was an interaction between the groups and time points (F=11.338, P<0.001), and the differences between the two groups at each moment were statistically significant (F=2.786, 5.074, 21.301, P=0.006, <0.001, <0.001). The differences in the observation group between each two moments were statistically significant (F=18.967, P<0.001). The fracture healing time in the observation group was shorter than that in the control group [(12.31±2.07) weeks vs (14.76±2.25) weeks] (t=6.125, P<0.001). The analysis of variance of repeated measurement design for the bone density, N-MID, β-CTx and PINP levels and lumbar dysfunction scores showed statistically significant differences between the observation group and the control group [observation group: (0.65±0.07) g/cm² and (0.71±0.08) g/cm², (15.58±3.01) ng/mL and (8.82±1.23) ng/mL, (0.32±0.06) ng/mL and (0.13±0.02) ng/mL, (32.89±4.33) ng/mL and (54.56±7.37) ng/mL, (60.18±5.20) scores and (15.88±3.01) scores; control group: (0.64±0.06) g/cm² and (0.67±0.07) g/cm², (15.43±2.96) ng/mL and (11.24±1.74) ng/mL, (0.31±0.06) ng/mL and (0.19±0.04) ng/mL, (33.02±4.41) ng/mL and (41.23±6.06) ng/mL, (59.25±5.43) scores and (24.35±4.20) scores](F=8.065, 12.224, 18.965, 22.467, 14.881, all P<0.001), and there was interaction between the groups and moments (F=12.401, 15.468, 18.742, 16.229, 18.924, all P<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups before treatment, while there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups after 6 months of treatment (F=2.894, 8.750, 10.318, 10.738, 10.330, all P<0.05). The observation group showed statistically significant differences before and after 6 months of treatment (F=2.924, 19.286, 22.569, 36.385, 12.387, all P<0.05).

Low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic field can effectively relieve osteoporosis pain pain, shorten fracture healing time, increase bone density and improve bone metabolism after internal fixation of osteoporotic thoracolumbar fractures, which can also improve lumbar function.