Intervention Review

Electromagnetic therapy for treating venous leg ulcers

  1. Zoriah Aziz1,*,
  2. Nicky A Cullum2,
  3. Kate Flemming2

Editorial Group: Cochrane Wounds Group

Published Online: 16 MAR 2011

Assessed as up-to-date: 15 FEB 2011

DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD002933.pub4

Database Title

Additional Information

How to Cite

Aziz Z, Cullum NA, Flemming K. Electromagnetic therapy for treating venous leg ulcers. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2011, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD002933. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD002933.pub4.

Author Information

  1. 1

    University of Malaya, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  2. 2

    University of York, Department of Health Sciences, York, North Yorkshire, UK

*Zoriah Aziz, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia. zoriah@um.edu.my.

Publication History

  1. Publication Status: New search for studies and content updated (no change to conclusions)
  2. Published Online: 16 MAR 2011

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Abstract

  1. Top of page
  2. Abstract
  3. Plain language summary
  4. 摘要

Background

Leg ulceration is a common, chronic, recurring condition. The estimated prevalence of leg ulcers in the UK population is 1.5 to 3 per 1000. Venous ulcers (also called stasis or varicose ulcers) comprise 80% to 85% of all leg ulcers. Electromagnetic therapy (EMT) is sometimes used as a treatment to assist the healing of chronic wounds such as venous leg ulcers.

Objectives

To assess the effects of EMT on the healing of venous leg ulcers.

Search methods

For this second update, Cochrane Wounds Group Specialised Register (searched 16 February 2011); The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library 2011, Issue 1); Ovid MEDLINE (1950 to February Week 1 2011); Ovid MEDLINE (In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations February 15, 2011); Ovid EMBASE (1980 to 2011 Week 06); and EBSCO CINAHL (1982 to 11 February 2011). We applied no date or language restrictions.

Selection criteria

Randomised controlled trials comparing EMT with sham-EMT or other treatments.

Data collection and analysis

At least two review authors independently scrutinised search results and obtained full reports of potentially eligible studies for further assessment. We extracted and summarised details of eligible studies using a data extraction sheet, and made attempts to obtain missing data by contacting study authors. A second review author checked data extraction, and we resolved disagreements after discussion between review authors.

Main results

Three randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of variable quality involving 94 people were included in the original review; subsequent updates have identified no new trials. All the trials compared the use of EMT with sham-EMT. In the two trials that reported healing rates; one small trial (44 participants) reported that significantly more ulcers healed in the EMT group than the sham-EMT group however this result was not robust to different assumptions about the outcomes of participants who were lost to follow up. The second trial that reported numbers of ulcers healed found no significant difference in healing. The third trial was also small (31 participants) and reported significantly greater reductions in ulcer size in the EMT group however this result may have been influenced by differences in the prognostic profiles of the treatment groups.

Authors' conclusions

There is no high quality evidence that electromagnetic therapy increases the rate of healing of venous leg ulcers, and further research is needed.

 

Plain language summary

  1. Top of page
  2. Abstract
  3. Plain language summary
  4. 摘要

Electromagnetic therapy (EMT) for treating venous leg ulcers

Venous leg ulcers (which appear as open sores) can be caused by a blockage or breakdown in the veins of the legs. Compression of the leg, using bandages or hosiery (stockings), can help heal most of these ulcers. Electromagnetic therapy is also sometimes offered. Electromagnetic therapy is not a form of radiation or heat, but uses an electromagnetic field to try to promote healing. This review of clinical trials concluded that there is no high quality evidence that electromagnetic therapy speeds the healing of venous leg ulcers.

 

摘要

  1. Top of page
  2. Abstract
  3. Plain language summary
  4. 摘要

背景

電磁療法用於治療靜脈性小腿潰瘍

小腿潰瘍是一種普遍、慢性且會重覆發作的狀況。根據估計，在英國小腿潰瘍的人口盛行率約為千分之1.5到3。靜脈潰瘍(又稱為瘀血或靜脈曲張性潰瘍)約佔所有小腿潰瘍的80% 到85% 。電磁療法(Electromagnetic therapy)偶爾會被用於協助治療諸如靜脈小腿潰瘍等慢性傷口。

目標

評估電磁療法用於治療靜脈性小腿潰瘍的功效。

搜尋策略

作為第一版文獻回顧的更新版本，我們搜尋了Cochrane Wounds Group Specialised Register (最後ㄧ次搜尋為2005年10月); CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library 2005, 第4期); MEDLINE (1966 到2005年10月); EMBASE (1980 年到2005年10月) 以及 CINAHL (1982年到2005年10月) 。

選擇標準

比較電磁療法和偽電磁療法 (sham electromagnetic therapy) 或其他治療的隨機對照試驗 (Randomised controlled trials;RCTs)

資料收集與分析

在第一版文獻回顧中，所有納入研究的細節都被摘錄在一份資料摘要表上，並試圖透過連繫原作者來取得欠缺的資訊，接著由第2位作者來確認所摘錄的資料。由於這些試驗所採用的介入與效果衡量的方法有足夠的相似度，因此使用了整合分析 (Meta Analysis) 來統整各項研究的結果。

主要結論

這次的更新並未發現新的試驗，納入的3個RCTs是第一版就已被找到的研究。有2個試驗比較了電磁療法和偽電磁療法間的差異，而另1個則是針對電磁療法跟標準的局部性治療作比較。有1個試驗發現電磁療法跟偽電磁療法間的治癒率雖有差異，不過在統計學上卻是落在邊緣的區域 (borderline) ，即使電磁療法在各研究中都顯示出有較佳的效果，但兩者間仍舊未達統計上顯著差異。

作者結論

目前沒有可靠證據證明電磁療法有助於治癒靜脈小腿潰瘍，未來還需要更多研究才可得知。

翻譯人

本摘要由成功大學附設醫院邱曉萱翻譯。

此翻譯計畫由臺灣國家衛生研究院 (National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan) 統籌。

總結

沒有顯著證據說明電磁療法對於靜脈小腿潰瘍的療效。靜脈小腿潰瘍(看起來是開放式的傷口)可能導因於小腿靜脈血管發生阻塞或損壞，以繃帶或襪子可以協助治癒大部分這類型的潰瘍，而有時候也會運用電磁療法來治療。電磁療法並不採取幅射或加熱的方式，而是以電力來加速治癒潰瘍。這份文獻回顧的結論如下：截至目前為止，沒有可靠證據顯示電磁療法是否有助於靜脈小腿潰瘍的治癒。

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