title: The wound healing trajectory and predictors with combined electric stimulation and conventional care: one outpatient wound care clinic's experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Electric stimulation (E-stim) has been found to be an effective treatment in improving wound healing rates. However, the wound healing trajectory and its related predictors for complete wound closure (CWC) have not been reported with E-stim treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective study. Data on 159 patients treated at an outpatient wound clinic utilizing combined intervention of E-stim and conventional care were included. The Kaplan-Meier healing curve together with linear regression models depicted the percentage of patients with CWC against time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With 100, 112 and 140 days of treatment, the percentages of patients with CWC were 59·12%, 61·01% and 65·41%, respectively. Linear regression models predicted that all patients would achieve CWC by 21·55, 22·26 and 24·80 weeks, respectively. The speed for the increase in the number and percentage of patients with CWC peaked between 50-75 days of treatment. To optimize timely healing, referral to other treatment facilities or change of treatment protocol is warranted around the peak time. With the combined intervention of E-stim and conventional care, positive predictors for CWC included a shorter wound duration at initial evaluation (P = 0·005, OR = 3·10), better compliance with appointments (P = 0·007, OR = 3·38) and the diagnosis of venous leg ulcer (P = 0·001, OR = 3·88).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provided preliminary data on wound healing trajectory and predictors with combined E-stim and conventional care. E-stim seemed to expedite wound healing; however, further research studies are needed.
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy Wound Care Clinic, Daemen College, Amherst, NY, USA.|Department of Health Promotion, Daemen College, Amherst, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Kehua
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Daemen College, Amherst, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schenk
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Daemen College, Amherst, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Brogan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D002056:Burns / Q000628:therapy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000628:therapy; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000628:therapy; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000072836:Surgical Wound / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014647:Varicose Ulcer / Q000628:therapy; D014945:Wound Healing; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Complete wound closure; electric stimulation; predictors; trajectory; wound healing