Broken bones or conditions which prevent bones from healing like Rickets or Osteoporosis and Bone Cancer are challenging to deal with.

Based on the fact that bone tissue manifests electrical potentials both in normal and pathological states, electrical stimulation has been employed since early 1812.

Onibere, R., & Khanna, A. (2012). The Role Of Electrical Stimulation In Fracture Healing. The Internet Journal of Orthopedic Surgery, 11(2), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.5580/1fa0

When a bone breaks, it generates its own low level electrical filed to stimulate bone healing. The research on electrical potentials show that bone under compression is negatively charged and deposits bone tissue. Bone under tension produces a positive charge and causes bone resorption. It has been noted that bone is most electro-negative in areas of growth such as fractures.

Onibere, R., & Khanna, A. (2012). The Role Of Electrical Stimulation In Fracture Healing. The Internet Journal of Orthopedic Surgery, 11(2), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.5580/1fa0

Boopalan, P. R. J. V. C., Chittaranjan, S. B., Balamurugan, R., Nandakumar, N. S., Sabareeswaranb, A., & Mohantyb, M. (2009). Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) treatment for fracture healing. Current Orthopaedic Practice, 20(4), 423–428. https://doi.org/10.1097/BCO.0b013e318198e8b2

Schemitsch, E., & Kuzyk, P. (2009). The science of electrical stimulation therapy for fracture healing. Indian Journal of Orthopaedics, 43(2), 127. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5413.50846

Griffin, M., & Bayat, A. (2011). Electrical stimulation in bone healing: critical analysis by evaluating levels of evidence. Eplasty, 11(July), e34. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21847434%0A
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=PMC3145421

In some patients this natural healing process is impaired and the fracture results in a nonunion. A nonunion occurs when a broken bone does not heal, likewise a delayed union is when the bone heals very slowly. Nonunions and delayed unions can be the most frustrating and unforeseen complications of fracture management and recovery.