title: Evaluation of the Healing Progress of Pressure Ulcers Treated with Cathodal High-Voltage Monophasic Pulsed Current: Results of a Prospective, Double-blind, Randomized Clinical Trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effectiveness of high-voltage monophasic pulsed current (HVMPC) as an adjunct to a standard wound care for the treatment of Stage II and III pressure ulcers (PrUs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two nursing and care centers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with PrUs that did not respond to previous treatment for at least 4 weeks were randomly assigned to the electrical stimulation (ES) group (25 patients; mean age of 79.92 ± 8.50 years; mean wound surface area [WSA] of 10.58 ± 10.57 cm) or to the control group (24 patients; mean age of 76.33 ± 12.74 years; mean WSA of 9.71 ± 6.70 cm).
  
  
  METHODS
  Both the ES and control groups received standard wound care and respectively, cathodal HVMPC (154 microseconds; 100 pulses per second; 0.24 A; 250 μ/s) applied continuously for 50 minutes once a day, 5 times a week, or sham HVMPC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Percentage area reduction over 6 weeks of intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the ES group, there was a statistically significant decrease in WSA after 1 week of treatment (35% ± 30.5%) compared with 17.07% ± 34.13% in the control group (P = .032). After treatment, at week 6, percentage area reduction in the ES group was 80.31% ± 29.02% versus 54.65% ± 42.65% in the control group (P = .046).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cathodal HVMPC reduces the WSA of Stage II and III PrUs. The results are consistent with the results of other researchers who used HVMPC to treat PrUs.
authors.affiliation: Anna Polak, PhD, PT, is a Physiotherapist and Specialist in Wound Healing and Geriatric Physical Therapies, and a Senior Lecturer, Department of Physical Therapy, Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, and the Medical Science Institute, Katowice School of Economics in Katowice, Poland. Luther C. Kloth, MS, PT, is an Emeritus Professor of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and a Licensed Physical Therapist and Certified Wound Specialist, American Academy of Wound Management. Edward Blaszczak, PhD, MSc, is an Associate Professor, Department of Medical Biophysics, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland. Jakub Taradaj, PhD, PT, is an Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, Academy of Physical Education, and a Lecturer, Institute of Physical Therapy, Public School of Medicine, Opole, Poland. Agnieszka Nawrat-Szoltysik, PhD, PT, is a Lecturer, Department of Physical Therapy, Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, and a Physiotherapist, Sw. Elzbieta Caritas Skilled Nursing Facility, Ruda Slaska, Poland. Anna Walczak, PT, is a Physiotherapist, Sw. Boromeusz Caritas Skilled Nursing Facility, Gliwice, Poland. Lidia Bialek, PhD, PT, is a Physiotherapist and Lecturer, Department of Medical Biophysics, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland. Malgorzata Paczula, MD, is a Surgeon and a Wound Treatment and Medical Rehabilitation Specialist, Rehabilitation Center, Repty, Tarnowskie Gory, Poland. Andrzej Franek, PhD, MSc, is Professor of Medical Sciences and Head of the Department of Biophysics, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland. Cezary Kucio, MS, is a Professor of Medical Sciences and Internal Medicine Specialist; Head, Clinical Research Projects on Internal Diseases and Geriatrics; and Chair, Physical Therapy, Academy of Physical Education in Katowice; and Head, Internal Medicine Department at the Specialist Hospital in Jaworzno, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polak
authors.forename: Luther C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Kloth
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Blaszczak
authors.forename: Jakub
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Taradaj
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nawrat-Szoltysik
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Walczak
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bialek
authors.forename: Malgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paczula
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franek
authors.forename: Cezary
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kucio
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*