Is there any Role for Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields in the Treatment of Early Osteoarthritis of the Knee?

Objective: Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields (PEMFs) were introduced in the clinical setting in the 1970s. Proven to be a successful method of treating non-union and delayed union of fractures, its effects on cartilage has remained ambiguous. PEMFs have demonstrated a pro-anabolic and anti-catabolic activity on cartilage metabolism. We hypothesized that the use of PEMFs in patients with symptomatic cartilage lesions of the knee would lead to improved clinical outcomes in an observational study to evaluate the results after 2-years. Methods: 25 patients between the age of 30 and 60 years who underwent treatment with PEMFs for symptomatic cartilage lesions of the knee (grade 1-2 as per ICRS classification) were included in this prospective case series. Patients were evaluated pre-treatment, at 12 months and 24 months using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scale for pain, Tegner and KOOS scores.. Results: A significant improvement in all scores was observed at 1-year follow-up (p=0.003). At 2-year follow-up, results deteriorated but were still superior to pre-treatment levels (p=0.04). No adverse reactions were seen. Conclusions: PEMFs in patients with symptomatic isolated cartilage lesions of the knee can cause improvement in symptoms, knee function and activity in the short term. Repetition of treatment annually may improve the long term results.