Neuromuscular electrostimulation on lower limb wounds.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Wound Healing Research
• Clinical Case Series

Background:

• Chronic lower limb wounds, including venous leg ulceration (VLU), mixed leg ulceration (MLU), and diabetic foot ulceration, present a significant clinical challenge.
• The geko™ device is a disposable neuromuscular electrostimulation (NMES) system designed to enhance blood circulation and promote wound healing.
• Evaluating novel therapeutic interventions is crucial for improving outcomes in patients with non-healing wounds.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the therapeutic efficacy of the geko™ NMES device on wound healing outcomes.
• To evaluate changes in wound surface area, granulation tissue, pain, and oedema over an 8-week period.
• To explore the potential benefits of NMES in managing chronic lower limb conditions.

Main Methods:

• A case series involving 30 patients with non-healing lower limb wounds (duration ≥ 12 weeks) was conducted.
• Participants received treatment with the geko™ device over an 8-week period.
• Wound assessments included surface area, tissue composition, pain levels, and oedema, with consideration for standard care interventions like compression therapy.

Main Results:

• Complete re-epithelialisation was achieved in 8% of participants.
• A mean decrease in wound surface area of 7.6 cm² was observed.
• A 21% increase in mean granulation tissue percentage and pain reduction in 52% of patients were noted.

Conclusions:

• The geko™ NMES device shows promise in improving wound healing parameters, particularly in patients with painful VLUs and MLUs.
• Observed reductions in wound size and pain suggest a potential benefit for NMES therapy.
• Further research is warranted to confirm generalisability across diverse chronic wound aetiologies and patient populations.