SY08       Title: Clincal Adjuncts to Bone Healing: Electrical Stimulation Date: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 Time: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM Type: SYMP-EDUCATIONAL Level: - Track: - Sponsor(s): Biomet Speaker(s): Stephen D. Cook Electrical stimulation has long been a proven adjunct to bone healing, especially in cases of nonunion. Though the clinical benefits of the technology are explained in hundreds of clinical studies, the mechanism of action has only recently been elucidated. Most forms of electrical stimulation upregulate the production of messenger RNA from DNA, which in turn is responsible for production of osteoinductive and osteopromotive growth factors like BMP's and TGF-Beta respectively.  These protein growth factors cause mesenchymal stem cells and other bone forming cells like osteoblasts to proliferate and differentiate, which ultimately leads to a better clinical outcome in the form of a faster healing rate, or a successfully fused nonunion. Objectives: Review electrical stimulation technologies for bone healing.   Describe simulation science.