EVALUATION OF TREATMENT WITH A PULSED ELECTROMAGNETIC-FIELD ON WOUND-HEALING, CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL VARIABLES, AND CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEM ACTIVITY OF DOGS

Objective-To evaluate effects of treatment with a pulsed electromagnet ic field (PEMF) on healing of open and sutured wounds, clinicopatholog ic variables, and CNS activity of dogs. Animals-12 adult female Beagle s. Procedure-Open and sutured wounds were created in the skin of the t runk of the dogs. Dogs were divided into 2 groups. One group received PEMF treatment and 1 group served as untreated (control) dogs. The PEM F-rreated dogs received treatment twice a day starting the day before surgery and lasting through day 21 after surgery. Wounds were evaluate d by use of tensiometry, planimetry, laser Doppler perfusion imaging, and histologic examination. Clinicopathologic variables and electroenc ephalographic tracings were also evaluated. Results-Use of PEMF treatm ent resulted in significantly enhanced epithelialization of open wound s 10 and 15 days after surgery. Five days after surgery, wounds of con trol dogs had a negative value for wound contraction, whereas PEMF-tre ated wounds had a positive value. The PEMF treatment did not cause sig nificant changes in short-term planimetric, perfusion, tensiometric, h istologic, clinicopathologic, or electroencephalographic results. Conc lusions-The PEMF treatment enhanced wound epithelialization in open cu taneous wounds and provided indications of early contraction without s ignificant short-term changes in other variables.