Effect of Direct Electric Current on Parietal Bone Osteogenesis

INTRODUCTION: It has been shown that biphasic electric stimuli may be effective in stimulation of bone growth. This study aimed to evaluate the role of direct electric current on osteogenesis of the parietal bone in a canine model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After surgical implantation of assembly involving 3 electrodes in the parietal bones in 5 adult male dogs, 20-MA direct electric current was applied. As a control group, a neutral assembly was implanted on the contralateral side of the calvaria.After 45 days of implantation, through a second surgical procedure, the bone samples were taken off the implantation sites and subjected to histologic evaluation. The data were analyzed with SPSS 16 software package (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL) using Chi-squared and Fisher exact tests. RESULTS: The bony tissues from all tissue sample sites were viable. Foreign body reaction that was documented by the presence of giant cells was observed in all samples. Histologic evaluation of samples revealed no statistically significant difference with respect to inflammatory reaction, bony trabecular thickness, bone arrangement, and maturation among the 3 electrode types (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Direct electric stimulation of the parietal bone in this canine model revealed no statistically significant difference with respect to inflammatory reaction, bony trabecular thickness, bone arrangement, and maturation.