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Management of chronic pelvic inflammatory disease with shortwave diathermy. A case report
1Department of Medical Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria, West Africa.
Abstract:
Patients with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) are not routinely referred for physical therapy until the condition is found to be resistant to antibiotic therapy. A 39-year-old black woman with an eight-year history of PID was treated with shortwave diathermy (SWD) using a modified "cross-fire" technique. A thermal dosage treatment lasting between 20 and 30 minutes (for each half of the cross-fire technique treatment) was administered. At the beginning of every treatment session, the patient rated her pain perception on a 10-point ratio scale. The patient received a total of nine treatments, after which she was completely pain free. The results of this case study suggest that SWD may be effective in the management of pelvic infections that are unresponsive to chemotherapy. Further studies using larger sample sizes and a control group, however, are needed before conclusive statements can be made on the relative efficacy of SWD in the management of chronic PID.
Insights
Shortwave diathermy (SWD) may effectively manage chronic pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) unresponsive to antibiotics. This case study shows a patient achieved complete pain relief after nine SWD sessions, suggesting its therapeutic potential.
Area of Science:
- Physical therapy modalities
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) management
- Electrophysical agents
Background:
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is often treated with antibiotics, with physical therapy typically reserved for antibiotic-resistant cases.
- Chronic PID can lead to persistent pain and discomfort, impacting patients' quality of life.
- Shortwave diathermy (SWD) is a therapeutic modality using electromagnetic energy to generate heat in tissues.
Observation:
- A case study involved a 39-year-old woman with an eight-year history of PID.
- The patient underwent nine treatment sessions of shortwave diathermy (SWD) using a modified "cross-fire" technique.
- Pain perception was assessed on a 10-point scale before each treatment session.
Findings:
- The patient received 20-30 minute SWD treatments per session.
- Following the nine treatments, the patient reported complete pain relief.
- The results indicate SWD may be beneficial for pelvic infections resistant to conventional chemotherapy.
Implications:
- Shortwave diathermy (SWD) shows promise as an adjunctive therapy for chronic, antibiotic-resistant pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
- This case suggests SWD could offer a non-pharmacological approach to pain management in chronic PID.
- Further research with larger cohorts and control groups is necessary to validate SWD's efficacy in PID treatment.