The effect of stochastic electrical noise on hard-to-heal wounds.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of electrical stochastic noise stimulation on hard-to-heal wounds.


METHODS
This open-label observational case series aimed to evaluate the effect of the Bioelectrical Signal Therapy (BST) device on the treatment of hard-to-heal (recalcitrant) wounds. The study group comprised nine patients (three males and six females), with a total of 11 ulcers that had not healed (ulcer duration range: 18 months to 20 years) despite being treated with other standard methods. Ulcer aetiologies were: EPUAP grade IV pressure ulcers (n=6) and grade III pressure ulcer (n=1), vasculitic ulcer (n=1), post-actinic lesion (n=1), ischaemic (n=1) and post-surgical lesion (n=1). The median patient age was 75. Treatment was delivered for 30 minutes, three times a day for 60 days.


RESULTS
Four patients (five ulcers) closed completely. Ulcers in three patients reduced in size with signs of epithelialisation. No improvement was observed in one patient (who had paraplegia). One patient stopped treatment due to skin irritation at electrode sites. No other adverse effects were observed and all of the treated patients defined the treatment as painless.


CONCLUSIONS
Stochastic white noise applied to hard-to-heal ulcers for 60 consecutive days reduced the wound surface area by an overall mean closure rate of 82.5% (SD=25.2%). This open-label observational case series provides preliminary indication of the possible role of stochastic resonance in wound healing.


BACKGROUND
This study was supported by Vivisol (Italy), a distributor of Lifewave's BST.
Ricci
E
E
The Difficult Wound Healing Unit, St. Luca's Clinic, Turin, Italy. ericcisegreteria@alice.it
Afaragan
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013269:Stochastic Processes; D014945:Wound Healing; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*