Retrospective Investigation into Pulsed Radio Frequency Energy (PRFE) Wound Therapy in the Treatment of Chronic Pressure Ulcers

Objectives

To use retrospective analysis to evaluate Pulsed Radio Frequency Energy (PRFE) as a potential therapeutic option in treatment of pressure ulcers.

Design

We analyzed a subset of patient data taken from a patient registry retrospectively created by Regenesis Biomedical, Inc. to gather information collected on 107 patients with 133 pressure ulcers treated with the PRFE technology.

Setting

The PRFE patient registry contains 4 weeks of data on pressure ulcer patients treated from 2005-2008 at 45 sites across the U.S.

Patients

The dataset comprised 107 patients with 133 wounds (Stages II-IV) who consented to have their data collected for analysis.

Interventions

Patients were undergoing PRFE treatment indicated for adjunctive use in the palliative treatment of postoperative pain and edema in superficial soft tissue.

Main Outcome Measures

·         Median percent reduction in wound surface area

·         Proportion that healed in 4 weeks (%)

·         Proportion which reached > 50% closure in 4 weeks (%)

Main Results

Retrospective analysis of patients treated 4 weeks for the palliative reduction of wound edema and pain with PRFE for pressure ulcers showed that overall 50% of wounds achieved closure of at least 50%. Historical comparisons strongly suggest that with continued treatment a majority of these treated wounds would reach closure.

Conclusion       The use of pulsed radio frequency energy could be viable therapeutic option in the healing of pressure ulcers and warrants further evaluation.