# MECHANICAL FACTORS IN ELECTRICAL OSTEOGENESIS

> **NIH NIH R01** · UPSTATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY · 1987 · $73,401

## Abstract

This project is designed to study the interaction between electrical and
mechanical stimuli in stimulated bone formation at implants.  Previous work
has suggested that mechanical factors may be responsible for, or contribute
to, electrically stimulated osteogenesis in both animal experiments and
clinical application to fracture healing.  As part of a rational search for
mechanisms for this controversial methodology, the existence of such a
relationship should first be confirmed or denied and its nature determined.

A well-accepted, direct current cathode/rabbit implant model will be used.
Small, calibrated intermittent mechanical forces will be introduced to the
implants by means of external magnetic fields attracting a ferromagnetic
core material.  The medullary osteogenic response will be measured from
histologic sections in terms of new bone mass, cartilage growth, etc.  The
applied force will be varied over a reasonable range and the duration of
application varied.  Frequency (rate) of pulsed forces will also be
studied.  Implants with and without current, and with and without
mechanical stimulus will be used along with 2 different, but proven,
cathode electrode systems.

If a dependent relationship is found between electrical and mechanical
stimuli in bone formation at the implant, a re-evaluation of the
effectiveness of "electrical" methods may be indicated.  Perhaps a more
important output of this study would be new information on the biophysical
mechanisms of stimulated osteogenesis, bone remodeling and Wolff's law.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3157160
- **Project number:** 5R01AR035365-03
- **Recipient organization:** UPSTATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** HYN3WD58HNN7
- **Principal Investigator:** JOSEPH A SPADARO
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $73,401
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1985-04-01 → 1988-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3157160

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3157160, MECHANICAL FACTORS IN ELECTRICAL OSTEOGENESIS (5R01AR035365-03). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-24 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3157160. Licensed CC0.

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