High-Voltage Electrical Stimulation Versus Ultrasound in the Treatment of Pressure Ulcers.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess and compare the efficacy of high-voltage electrical stimulation (HVES) with ultrasound (US) in treating Stage II through Stage IV pressure ulcers (PrUs)* of hospitalized patients.

DESIGN

This study was designed as a prospective, controlled trial in which patients were randomly assigned to 2 groups.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTINGS: A total of 27 patients (22 male, 5 female) hospitalized for neurologic rehabilitation in the Clinic of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation with Stage II through Stage IV PrUs were included in this study. The patients were randomly assigned to either HVES or US treatment group, and all patients underwent standard wound care. Over 4 to 12 weeks, HVES was applied for 60 minutes 3 times per week, and US was applied 3 times per week.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Properties of the PrUs were noted during pre- and posttreatment.

RESULTS

The PrUs of patients in the HVES and US groups healed at a mean rate of 43% and 63%, respectively. There was no statistically significant intergroup difference in healing found after treatment. Regression analysis was performed for the factors that could influence the wound surface areas, and significant effects were detected among the level of ambulation, pretreatment stage, and smoking.

CONCLUSIONS

Both HVES and US are promising methods for wound healing, and both electrotherapy modalities have been demonstrated to support the healing of PrUs.