Publication Date
1-1-2023
Journal
Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology
DOI
10.1177/19322968211035128
PMID
34328024
PMCID
PMC9846397
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
7-30-2021
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Published Open-Access
yes
Keywords
diabetic foot ulcer, electrical stimulation, home-based therapy, skin perfusion, tissue oxygenation, wound healing, wearables, amputation, limb salvage, neuromodulation
Abstract
Background: Electrical stimulation (E-Stim) may offer a unique adjunctive treatment to heal complicated diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). Our primary goal is to examine the effectiveness of daily home-based E-Stim therapy to speed-up wound healing.
Methods: Patients with chronic DFUs and mild to severe peripheral arterial disease (PAD) were recruited and randomized to either control (CG) or intervention (IG) groups. The IG received 1-hour home-based E-Stim therapy on daily basis for 4 weeks (4W). E-Stim was delivered through electrical pads placed above the ankle joint using a bio-electric stimulation technology (BEST®) platform (Tennant Biomodulator® PRO). The CG was provided with an identical but non-functional device for the same period. The primary outcome included wound area reduction at 4W from baseline (BL).
Results: Thirty-eight patients were recruited and 5 were removed due to non-compliance or infection, leaving 33 participants (IG, n = 16; CG, n =17). At 4W, the IG showed a significant wound area reduction of 22% (BL: 7.4 ± 8.5 cm2 vs 4W: 5.8 ± 8.0 cm2, P = 0.002). Average of wound area was unchanged in the CG (P = 0.982). The self-report adherence to daily home-therapy was 93.9%.
Conclusions: Daily home-based E-Stim provides early results on the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of E-Stim as an adjunctive therapy to speed up wound healings in patients with chronic DFU and mild to severe PAD.
Included in
Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism Commons, Geriatrics Commons, Medical Sciences Commons, Podiatry Commons, Wounds and Injuries Commons