ELECTRICAL-STIMULATION - ACCELERATION OF SOFT-TISSUE REPAIR BY VARYING THE POLARITY

To study the influence of the electrode polarity on wound epithelizati on, 24 domestic pigs each received 72 partial thickness wounds on thei r paravertebral area. Pigs were either treated with pulsed electrical stimulation (PES) for 30 minutes twice daily or with an identical devi ce with no PES. Polarity regimens were (1) negative on day 0 followed by positive on days 1 to 7, (2) positive on days 0 to 7, (3) negative polarity on days 0 to 7 and (4) negative polarity on days 0, 2, 4, 6 a nd positive polarity on days 1, 3, 5, 7. Epithelization was evaluated macroscopically by the method of Eaglstein and Mertz (1978). Negative (day 0) followed by positive PES (days 1 to 7) enhanced epithelization by 20% as compared to either positive (+9%) or negative (-9%) alone. Alternating +/- daily inhibited epithelization by 45%. We concluded th at negative polarity followed by positive was the most effective in en hancing epidermal healing.