Effect of electrical stimulation on chronic wound healing: a meta-analysis

The purpose of this meta-analysis was to quantify the effect of electrical stimulation on chronic wound healing. Fifteen studies, which included 24 el ectrical stimulation samples and 15 control samples, were analyzed. The ave rage rate of healing per week was calculated for the electrical stimulation and control samples. Ninety-five percentage confidence intervals were also calculated. The samples were then grouped by type of electrical stimulatio n device and chronic wound and reanalyzed. Rate of healing per week was 22% for electrical stimulation samples and 9% for control samples. The net eff ect of electrical stimulation was 13% per week, an increase of 144% over th e control rate. The 95% confidence intervals of the electrical stimulation (18-26%) and control samples (3.8-14%) did not overlap. Electrical stimulat ion was most effective on pressure ulcers (net effect = 13%). Findings rega rding the relative effectiveness of different types of electrical stimulati on device were inconclusive. Although electrical stimulation produces a sub stantial improvement in the healing of chronic wounds, further research is needed to identify which electrical stimulation devices are most effective and which wounds respond best to this treatment.