title: Effectiveness, tolerability, and safety of electrical stimulation of wounds with an electrical stimulation device: results of a retrospective register study.
abstract: ﻿The purpose of this study was to determine effectiveness, tolerability, and safety of electrical stimulation therapy (EST) using an electrical stimulation device to treat wounds under hospitalized and routine ambulatory conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  This registered study was conducted as a multicenter, retrospective, noncontrolled study of EST for treating complex acute and chronic wounds. Data were collected and entered in a standardized manner in accordance to defined criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-five (n = 95) patients with median wound duration of 13.7 months were treated with EST for an average of 48.1 days. Wound size decreased by 44.7%, complete granulation occurred in 30.4%, and epithelialization (full or partial) increased in 80.4%. Exudate, fibrin, necrosis, and wound odor decreased. Patients described the global effectiveness and treatment tolerability as good (77.2%) or very good (78.5%). A few adverse events occurred, including maceration (4 patients) and pain (1 patient) at the wound edge, where the wound was exposed to the dispersive electrode. Wound status deteriorated in 4 patients. Surgery, mainly second amputations or debridement, were required in 7 cases and were found to be related to a seriously ill patient cohort.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Electrical stimulation therapy is a safe and effective treatment for chronic and complicated wounds, and is well tolerated by patients.
authors: Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing, University Clinics of Hamburg, Germany; email: k.herberger@uke.de.
authors: Katharina
authors: K
authors: Herberger
authors: Department of Vascular Medicine, University Heart Center, University Clinics of Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Eike
authors: E
authors: Debus
authors: Department of Vascular Medicine, University Heart Center, University Clinics of Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Axel
authors: A
authors: Larena-Avellaneda
authors: Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing, University Clinics of Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Christine
authors: C
authors: Blome
authors: Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing, University Clinics of Hamburg, Germany.
authors: Matthias
authors: M
authors: Augustin