High voltage pulsed current using surface electrodes: effect on acute edema formation after hyperflexion injury in...

We have repeatedly demonstrated that high voltage pulsed current (HVPC) applied via immersion technique at 120 pps and 90% of visible motor threshold curbs posttraumatic edema formation in nonhuman vertebrates. Clinically, however, HVPC is frequently applied to patients via surface electrodes. The purpose of this study was to determine whether use of HVPC with surface electrodes would also result in curbing of edema formation in nonhuman vertebrates. Ankles of 20 anesthetized frogs were sprained bilaterally. One randomly selected limb of each frog received HVPC for 30 minutes immediately after trauma, while the other limb served as a control. Limb volumes were measured before and after trauma, after treatment, and at 1-hour intervals for 4 hours. Unlike three previous experiments with cathodal HVPC, a single 30-min HVPC treatment delivered via surface electrodes did not curb edema formation. These results suggest that electrode type or position or both may be critical factors in the efficacy of HVPC in the treatment of edema in frogs. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1992;16(3):140-144.