title: [Extracorporeal shock wave therapy as a treatment of a non-healing chronic leg ulcer].
abstract: Extracorporeal shock waves are defined as a sequence of sonic pulses characterized by high peak pressure over 100 MPa, fast pressure rise, and short lifecycle. In the 1980s extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) was first used for the treatment of urolithiasis. Orthopedic surgeons use extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) to treat non-union fractures, tendinopathies and osteonecrosis. The first application of ESWT in dermatology was for recalcitrant skin ulcers. Several studies in the last 10 years have shown that ESWT promotes angiogenesis, increases perfusion in ischemic tissues, decreases inflammation, enhances cell differentiation and accelerates wound healing. We successfully treated a non-healing chronic venous leg ulcer with ESWT. Furthermore we observed an improvement of the lymphatic drainage after application of ESWT. We are confident that ESWT is a non-invasive, practical, safe and efficient physical treatment modality for recalcitrant leg ulcers.
authors: Klinik für Dermatologie, Universitätsklinik Inselspital, Universität Bern, Freiburgstr. 3, 3010 Bern, Schweiz. marco.stieger@insel.ch
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Stieger
authors: J-P
authors: JP
authors: Schmid
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Bajrami
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Hunziker
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D019220:High-Energy Shock Waves / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D057086:High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome