Anodal and cathodal pulsed electrical stimulation on skin wound healing in guinea pigs

Abstract

Abstract-We investigated the effects of anodal and cathodal electrical stimulation on wound healing. In a randomized controlled trial, we divided 42 male albino guinea pigs into two control (C1 and C2) and four experimental (E1-E4) groups. A 3 cm linear incision was made at the dorsal skin of all guinea pigs. A unidirectional pulse current of 300 to 600 microamperes, 80 pps, and 0.3 ms pulse duration was administered for 1 hour a day. In groups E1 and E3 (anodal), a positive polarity was applied for the first 3 days followed by negative polarity the remaining days. In groups E2 and E4 (cathodal), negative polarity was applied for the first 3 days and positive polarity the remaining days. Groups E1, E2, and C1 were killed on day 14 and E3, E4, and C2 on day 21. We measured the percentage of decrease in wound surface area (daily tracing) and tensile strength (on days 14 and 21). The results indicated that both cathodal and anodal stimulations increased the rate of wound closure. Beginning with day 12, we saw a significant difference in the percentage of the decrease in wound surface between all treatment and control groups (p < 0.05). Ultimate tensile strength and stress increased in the anodal compared with the cathodal and control groups; at the end of day 14, ultimate tensile stress in E1 was significantly greater compared with C1 (p < 0.05). We conclude that electrical stimulation, regardless of polarity regimen, benefits wound healing, but anodal stimulation the first 3 days and cathodal stimulation the remaining days can lead to stronger repaired tissue.

Effect of sensory and motor electrical stimulation in vascular endothelial growth factor expression of muscle and skin in full-thickness wound

“…In the motor ES group, we applied monophasic pulsed current with an intensity enough to elicit a visible minimum contraction (about 2.5-3.0 mA), pulse duration 300 s, frequency 100 Hz, for 1 h/day, every other day, for 3 or 7 days. These ES parameters have been used in many other studies [15,[17][18][19]. The ES device used in this study was the BTL-5000 series (BTL Industries Ltd; Hertfordshire, United Kingdom).…”

Role of sensory and motor intensity of electrical stimulation on fibroblastic growth factor-2 expression, inflammation, vascularization, and mechanical strength of full-thickness wounds

“…There are controversial results from previous studies regarding the effects of ES on the biomechanical properties of healed wounds [30][31]34,[36][37][45][46][47][48]. Although a comparison of the biomechanical properties showed no statistically significant differences between the normalized ultimate strength, stiffness, and strain in the groups, these biomechanical properties tended to be higher in the motor ES group.…”

“…ES has beneficial effects on the wound-healing process [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][35][36][37], but the mechanism of these effects remains unclear. Angiogenesis factors play an important role in various phases of wound healing [2][3][4][5][6][7][8].…”

Does Preoperative Electrical Stimulation of the Skin Alter the Healing Process?

“…Studies have demonstrated the antibacterial effect of negative-polarity stimulation [16][17][18] and the relationship between faster wound epithelialization and positive-polarity stimulation [19]. After observing the different physiopathologic effects caused by positive-and negative-polarity stimulation, a study was conducted in which the stimulus polarity was alternated along the treatment [20]. The authors reported that alternated-polarity stimuli, which are similar to the currents produced by the human body in response to a skin wound, accelerated the wound healing process [21].…”