title: The efficacy of electrical stimulation in experimentally induced cutaneous wounds in animals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Complicated cutaneous wounds and their subsequent management can be a clinical challenge in veterinary medicine. There is still an unmet need for an ideal wound healing therapy that is able to stimulate efficiency and quality of repair. Skin wounds generate large and persistent endogenous electric currents and fields termed the "current of injury". The current of injury is involved in numerous processes of wound healing. These observations have led to the hypothesis that applied electrical stimulation (ES) may promote wound healing by imitating the natural electrical current that occurs in cutaneous wounds.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This review details the use, effect and mechanism of ES in different preclinical experimental cutaneous wound models and discusses the potential of how ES could be translated into veterinary practice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Studies have found a variable effect of ES on wound healing. Some have been positive with faster rates of wound re-epithelialization, increased wound collagen formation and angiogenesis noted. Other studies have shown no effect or detrimental results. The effects of ES are highly influenced by the ES modality, polarity and parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Electrical stimulation has the potential to play a significant role in enhancing cutaneous wound healing in veterinary practice. Clinical studies are necessary to corroborate the findings from experimental studies which have shown promise including the use of alternating pulsed and direct current and the use of bio-electric dressings. The ideal ES device would need to be safe, easy to use, portable, noninvasive and aid wound healing by having a beneficial effect on all wound healing stages.
authors.affiliation: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Research, Centre for Dermatological Research, Institute of Inflammation and Repair, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ashrafi
authors.affiliation: Bioengineering Group, School of Materials, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Alonso-Rasgado
authors.affiliation: Wythenshawe Hospital, University Hospital South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Southmoor Road, Manchester, M23 9LT, UK.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baguneid
authors.affiliation: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Research, Centre for Dermatological Research, Institute of Inflammation and Repair, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK.
authors.forename: Ardeshir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bayat
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*