Feasibility of an electrostimulation system treatment for wound healing: a case series of patients with chronic ulcers in Barbados

Abstract

Major advances have been made in the development of new therapies for chronic wounds. Fenzian™, an electrostimulation system (ES), has been clinically used for a variety of conditions. The ES was recently tested in the Barbadian population for tolerability and acceptability by asthma patients, with encouraging results. Barbados has an estimated 170 people with diabetes having some form of lower-extremity amputation annually. Here, we describe a case series of 21 chronic ulcer patients with diabetes recruited as inpatients (n = 10) and outpatients (n = 11) in a pilot study to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of ES in the Barbadian population. Results showed statistically significant improvement among those in the inpatient- versus outpatient-recruited group for wound perimeter (P = 0·04), wound surface area (P = 0·03) and wound volume (P = 0·08). We also demonstrate that the improvement continued after cessation of ES treatment. Participants reported increased levels of pain at the end of treatment, and there was no statistically significant change in the reported quality of life. Our results showed greater improvements in reduction of ulcer size for participants from the inpatient- versus outpatient-recruited group.

Biochemical and Biophysical Cues in Matrix Design for Chronic and Diabetic Wound Treatment

“…Results showed wound area and diameter decreased only in the patients who received the stimulation. 202 A bioelectric dressing that generates physiologic levels of microcurrent (2-10 mA) (Procellera Ò ) (Fig. 4) has been reported to accelerate wound healing by promoting reepithelialization.…”

Ionic liquid functionalized injectable and conductive hyaluronic acid hydrogels for the efficient repair of diabetic wounds under electrical stimulation

“…15,16 However, the conventional electrical stimulation strategy involves placing separated electrodes near the wound or placing one electrode in the wound bed for the delivery of a low-intensity electric current. 17 The applied ES cannot cover the whole wound area, and the therapeutic outcome may be compromised. Conducting polymers are deemed attractive as they not only provide both a scaffold for physical support, and act as the conductive matrix to deliver multiple stimulation (i.e., electrical stimulation), which is very meaningful for the promotion diabetic wound healing.…”

Antibacterial hydrogels for managing wound infections

“…Oxygen is required for wound healing and it is believed that delivering oxygen directly can speed up the process. Electrostimulation [78] is considered to induce the expression of genes involved in modulating the inflammatory stage of wound healing, as well as upregulating the production of nitric oxide and growth factors which increases angiogenesis and cell migration [79,80]. However, such technology is still in its infant stage and the results are not compelling.…”