How do bone growth stimulators work?

Question

I was prescribed one for a displaced broken metatarsal that required surgery and a plate.

In: Technology

Answer 1

Specifics depend on the specific stimulator you were given. But the basic way they tend to work is by altering the balance of osteoblast and osteoclast function. Osteoblasts form bone and osteoclasts “eat” bone (so that it can be replaced). Stimulators can make osteoblasts more active or reduce the activity of osteoclasts so that more bone matrix is deposited than eaten.