PULSED MICROAMPERAGE STIMULATION - A CONTROLLED-STUDY OF HEALING OF SURGICALLY INDUCED WOUNDS IN YUCATAN PIGS

Background and Purpose. Microamperage direct current and microamperage electromagnetic stimulation are used to accelerate healing in bone Although many clinicians are using microamperage stimulation to relieve pain and facilitate wound healing, there is significant question regarding whether this low intensity direct current significantly accelerates soft tissue wound repair The purpose of this study was to determine whether low-voltage pulsed microamperage current (100 muA 69 V, 0.1 Hz) enhances the healing of superficial, full-thickness, or incisional wounds created to stimulate acute abrasions; ulcers, and lacerations SubJects. Ten adult Yucatan mini pigs served as the subjects for this study. Methods. Variables associated with healing were measured in 69 matched pairs of surgically induced partial-thickness, full-thickness and incisional wounds after either sham or anodal (positive-polarity) stimulation with pulsed microamperage current (100 muA) was administered for 1 hour per day for 5 days Sterile, disposable electrodes (2 x 4 cm) were placed over each wound, which was kept wrapped and protected throughout the study. Results. At 7 days postinjury, all wounds were healing well with no signs of infection. There were no differences in tensile strength, collagen density maturity or deposition (hydroxyproline), wound size, or visual appearance between the sham treatment and treatment. No changes in local subcutaneous oxygen or temperature were found in the swine during or after microamperage stimulation. Conclusion and Discussion. This study did not provide any evidence to support the use of microamperage stimulation to accelerate wound healing No negative effects, however, were found. Further research is needed to determine whether there is a critical interaction between the size of the electrode relative to the wound, the density of the current, the duration of the treatment, the Polarity of the treatment electrode, and the acuity or chronicity of wounding and the effectiveness of microcurrent stimulation for wound healing.