A bone growth stimulator (BGS) is a medical device used to promote healing in bones that are struggling to mend, typically non-union fractures or following spinal fusion surgery. These devices deliver energy to the fracture or surgical site to encourage new bone growth, a process known as osteogenesis. BGS therapy is often prescribed when a patient faces a high risk of a bone not healing properly, providing a non-surgical option. Given the high cost, patients often question whether the equipment can be reused for a subsequent injury or by another individual.
Understanding Bone Growth Stimulator Technology
Bone growth stimulators operate by sending specific energy waves to the area of non-healing bone; this treatment is generally painless. These devices fall into two categories: external and internal. External devices are portable, wearable units placed on the skin or over a cast or brace near the fracture site.
These external units typically use one of two primary energy types to stimulate healing. Some utilize low-level electrical fields, such as pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) or capacitive coupling, to promote bone cell activity. Other external stimulators use low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) waves, which are mechanical energy signals transmitted through a coupling gel to the bone.
Internal bone growth stimulators are surgically implanted at the time of the initial procedure, such as a spinal fusion. These implanted devices remain inside the body, delivering a continuous low-level electrical current directly to the bone tissue. While external devices are removed once treatment is complete, an implanted device may require a second surgery for removal if the battery life is exhausted or if it malfunctions.
Technical Limitations Driving Single-Patient Use
The most significant barrier to reusing an external bone growth stimulator is a deliberate technical design feature implemented by manufacturers. Most external devices are programmed with an internal timer or counter that locks the unit after a set number of uses or a specific duration, such as 90 to 180 days. This programmed expiration date renders the device non-functional once the prescribed treatment course is completed.
This built-in obsolescence is enforced through specialized software that cannot be easily reset or reprogrammed outside of the manufacturer’s facility. Since the device is calibrated for a single course of therapy, attempting to bypass the lockout mechanism is unauthorized. This would violate the manufacturer’s warranty and the device’s original regulatory approval.
Internal bone growth stimulators are strictly single-use items due to their nature as sterile, surgically implanted medical devices. Once implanted, the internal components, wires, and battery are designed to function for the estimated duration of the fusion process. The materials cannot be reliably sterilized for a second patient, and the risk of infection or device failure makes reuse medically impossible.
Insurance Coverage and Device Disposal Protocols
The single-use designation is strongly supported by how bone growth stimulators are classified and covered by health insurance providers. These devices are categorized as Durable Medical Equipment (DME). Coverage is approved only when deemed medically necessary for a specific patient’s condition, such as a non-union fracture or as an adjunct to spinal fusion. Insurance policies, including Medicare, cover the cost only for the duration of the prescribed treatment for that individual.
Most external stimulators are not purchased outright by the patient. They are instead supplied by the manufacturer or a third-party vendor, often under a rental or lease agreement facilitated through the insurance claim. This arrangement means the patient typically does not own the device, preventing them from legally transferring it to another person. The supplier maintains control over the equipment and its use.
Upon completion of the prescribed therapy, the patient is instructed to return the external bone growth stimulator to the supplier or manufacturer. This return process ensures the device is taken out of circulation and prevents any unauthorized secondary market from developing. The supplier then handles the proper disposal of the unit as specialized electronic medical waste due to the internal components and batteries.