title: Efficacy, tolerability and patient benefit of ultrasound-assisted wound treatment versus surgical debridement: a randomized clinical study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Low-frequency ultrasound has been shown to be an alternative to surgical wound debridement (WD) to stimulate wound healing; however, few data are available.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the efficacy, tolerability and benefit of both wound treatment methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  A monocentric prospective randomized-controlled clinical study assessing patient-reported outcomes and clinical efficacy of ultrasound-assisted wound treatment (UAW) compared to WD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 67 patients were treated. Efficacy and tolerability were found to be good for both treatments, with 88% of UAW and 85.2% of WD patients experiencing more-than-minimal patient benefit. Quality of life improved significantly. Wound status improved and pain decreased in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared to the gold standard (i.e. WD), UAW displays the same high efficacy, comparable patient benefit and improved quality of life. Both procedures are equally suitable for highly beneficial guideline-based treatment of chronic wounds.
authors.affiliation: Center for Dermatological Research, Comprehensive Wound Center, University Clinics of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany. k.herberger@uke.uni-hamburg.de
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Herberger
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Franzke
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blome
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kirsten
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Augustin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003646:Debridement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000601:surgery; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy; D014945:Wound Healing; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*