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Treatment of an Impacted Hip Fracture with a Capacitively Coupled Electric Field using the Matrix IIIntroductionThis broken hip is a remarkable case. The first x-ray (left sidebar) shows a broken hip over a year after it had fractured. This bone has given up on trying to unite and looks as if it will never heal. This woman was disabled by pain from this fracture and had to hobble around with a wheeled metal brace.There were no surgical options so Matrix II treatment began shortly after this X-ray. She wore it faithfully for a year and within that year she became
able to walk using only a cane and when I last saw her she still
had a limp but was completely pain-free. Case HistoryThe patient is a 73 year old female with insulin-dependent diabetes and hypertension who suffered an intertrochanteric fracture to her right hip in April. The fracture was stabilized with a pin and a plate. Post-operatively she had a very rocky course with the development of a deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, congestive heart-failure, urinary tract infection, unstable diabetes and finally an infection in the periarticular region of the fracture. The abcess was drained and the pin and plate removed. Subsequent plain radiograms and tomograms of the fracture site revealed only partial bony bridging. By the following March it was apparent that no further union was taking place. The decision was made to try electrical stimulation and the device Matrix II was installed in March. Serial tomograms done at 8 weeks intervals showed progressive bony bridging. Clinically, at the beginning of the therapy, the patient required a walker. At the two month mark she was using two canes. At four months she was able to get around on one cane and at six months she was fully weight bearing with no assistance. DiscussionThis patient experienced a wonderful outcome in a hopeless situation, thanks to the Matrix II. Myron K. MacDonald, M.D.
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