gms | German Medical Science

Introduction: During skin injury, ion channels across the cell membrane create an electrical gradient at the wound edge which initiates cell migration and cell proliferation. This ‘current of injury’ exists due to loss of ions through wound fluid and ceases when full epithelization has been reached. An exogenous increase of this electric wound field, through the use of electroceuticals, tends to enhance cell activity and thus the wound healing tendency. Recently, the first non-invasive module came on the market that generates an exogenous electric field by using ionized oxygen molecules: Wireless Micro Current Stimulation (WMCS). Within this double-blind placebo-controlled trial we assessed the effects of WMCS as adjunctive chronic wound treatment.

Methods: Chronic wounds without the need of surgical or vascular intervention were eligible for this study. Healing tendency of standard wound care was photographically evaluated during a 4-week initial phase. After randomization, patients received 45 minutes of (placebo) WMCS thrice weekly as adjunctive wound treatment for a maximum of twelve weeks. Primary outcome measure was an increase in monthly wound area reduction (cm2) in comparison to the initial phase. Secondary outcome measures were days to complete epithelization, VAS-score and adverse events.

Results: A total of 30 chronic wounds were included (n = 15 placebo, n = 15 WMCS). The monthly wound area reduction in the WMCS group increased by 1.09 cm2 (95% CI: 0.25, 1.96) (P = 0.015) and stagnated in the placebo group by 0.02 cm2 (95% CI: -0.56, 0.52) (P = 0.935). Complete epithelialization was achieved in eight wounds (n = 5 placebo, n = 3 WMCS) (P = 0.41). Adverse events occurred in nine patients (n = 6 placebo, n = 3 WMCS) (P = 0.14). The treatment was well tolerated in all patients and only slightly noticeable as a tingling feeling at the wound site.

Conclusion: Wireless Micro Current Stimulation, as a non-invasive electroceutical, is an effective adjunctive chronic wound treatment. It showed an increase in wound healing combined with a decreasing tendency of wound infection. It was well tolerated in all patients. As a non-invasive module, the treatment offers an advantage over other electroceutical therapies and is the first module applicable within burn care. A cost-efficiency study is indicated for the evaluation of a potential clinical implementation.