Clinical Trials Involving Biphasic Pulsed Current, MicroCurrent, and/or Low-Intensity Direct Current

Area of Science:

• Wound Healing Research
• Biomedical Engineering
• Clinical Therapeutics

Background:

• Electrical stimulation (ES) has been investigated as a method to accelerate chronic wound closure.
• Inconsistent terminology and application methods complicate the interpretation of existing research.
• Recent advances include microcurrent devices integrated into wound dressings, but their efficacy is still under investigation.

Approach:

• This review critically appraises a wide range of literature on electrical stimulation for wound healing.
• It focuses on identifying effective ES protocols and distinguishing them from less successful approaches.
• The review aims to clarify findings for clinicians unfamiliar with ES in wound care.

Key Points:

• Not all forms of electrical stimulation yield positive results in wound healing.
• Monophasic pulsed current applied directly to the wound shows promise.
• Biphasic pulsed current applied to periulcer skin for 2 hours daily, eliciting motor responses, has demonstrated consistent positive outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Optimal stimulus parameters and treatment schedules for ES in chronic wound management require further determination.
• Standardized terminology and detailed reporting of ES protocols are crucial for future research.
• While microcurrent devices represent a technical advance, current evidence does not support their accelerated wound closure capabilities.