This is not the most recent version of the article. View current version (10 NOV 2010)
Intervention Review
Electromagnetic therapy for treating pressure ulcers
Editorial Group: Cochrane Wounds Group
Published Online: 7 OCT 2009
Assessed as up-to-date: 28 APR 2008
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD002930.pub3
Copyright © 2009 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Database Title
Additional Information
How to Cite
Olyaee Manesh A, Flemming K, Cullum NA, Ravaghi H. Electromagnetic therapy for treating pressure ulcers. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2006, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD002930. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD002930.pub3.
Publication History
- Publication Status: Edited (no change to conclusions)
- Published Online: 7 OCT 2009
This is not the most recent version of the article.View current version (10 Nov 2010)
Abstract
Background
Pressure ulcers are defined as areas "of localized damage to the skin and underlying tissue caused by pressure, shear, friction and/or the combination of these". In the UK, pressure ulcers occur in 5 to 32% of hospital in patients and in 4 to 7% of people in community settings. Electromagnetic therapy, in which electrodes produce an electromagnetic field across the wound, may improve healing of chronic wounds such as pressure ulcers.
Objectives
To assess the effects of electromagnetic therapy on the healing of pressure ulcers.
Search strategy
For this second update, we searched the Cochrane Wounds Group Specialised Register (last searched October 2007); the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library 2008, Issue 2); MEDLINE (1966 to April 2008); EMBASE (1980 to Week 17 2008); and CINAHL (1982 to April 2008).
Selection criteria
Randomised controlled trials comparing electromagnetic therapy with sham electromagnetic therapy, or other (standard) treatment.
Data collection and analysis
For this second update, two authors independently scrutinized the results of the search to identify relevant RCTs and obtained full reports of potentially eligible studies. For the original review, details of eligible studies were extracted and summarised using a data extraction sheet. Attempts were made to obtain missing data by contacting authors. Data extraction was checked by a second author.
Main results
This update identified no new trials. Two RCTs were identified for inclusion in the original review (total of 60 participants). One was a three-armed study comparing electromagnetic therapy with electromagnetic therapy in combination with standard therapy, and with standard therapy alone, on 17 female and 13 male with grade II and III pressure ulcers. The other study compared electromagnetic therapy with sham therapy in 30 male participants with a spinal cord injury and a grade II or grade III pressure ulcer.
Neither study found a statistically significant difference between the healing rates of pressure ulcers in people treated with electromagnetic therapy compared with those in the control group.
Authors' conclusions
The results provide no evidence of benefit in using electromagnetic therapy to treat pressure ulcers. However, the possibility of a beneficial or harmful effect cannot be ruled out, due to the fact that there were only two included trials both with methodological limitations and small numbers of participants. Further research is recommended.
Plain language summary
Electromagnetic therapy for treating pressure ulcers
Pressure ulcers (also called bed sores, decubitus ulcers or pressure sores) are sores on the skin caused by pressure or rubbing. They usually affect immobile people, on the bony parts of their bodies that stick out, such as hips, heels and elbows, and take a long time to heal. Electromagnetic therapy uses a field of electricity to try and encourage healing of pressure ulcers. However, the review of trials concluded there is no strong evidence to show whether electromagnetic therapy helps or hinders healing of these ulcers.