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Non-contact, low frequency ultrasound therapy (MIST therapyâ), is used with a mist of saline to promote wound healing. It has been used to treat acute wounds with compromised circulation, chronic wounds, pressure ulcers, infected wounds and high-volume drainage wounds. In some cases this therapy was used simultaneously with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), which uses 100% oxygen at increased levels of pressure to promote wound healing. This retrospective study analyzes the affect of non-contact, low frequency ultrasound therapy in reducing wound area both with and with out HBOT.
Methods
Subjects that received a minimum of 3 therapy sessions for the same wound qualified for this study. All subjects received therapy at Loma Linda University Medical Center between 2010 and 2012. Data used in the study included size of wound at beginning and end of treatment, number and length of treatments and whether the subject had HBOT simultaneously with non-contact, low frequency ultrasound therapy.
Results
Eighty-three subjects were reviewed. Forty-five subjects with 63 different wounds qualified. Wound locations were: 6 foot/ankle, 3 hip, 8 ischium, 22 sacrum, 6 of buttock, leg, coccyx and 1 of abdomen, shoulder, chest wall, lower back, groin and breast. Wound size ranged from 1x1cm to 15x50cm. Wound area ranged from 1cm2 to 750cm2. Six wounds did not change (9%), 44 wounds were reduced (70% p<0.001) and 13 wounds increased (21% p<0.068). Twenty wounds (32%) decreased by at least 50%. Only 8 subjects had HBOT along with non-contact, low frequency ultrasound therapy. Seven of the HBO subjects had a reduction in wounds (88% p<0.095).
Conclusion
This study found a statistically significant reduction in wound size for subjects undergoing non-contact, low frequency ultrasound therapy. There was also a trend toward significant reduction in wound area in subjects that underwent HBOT concurrently with non-contact, low frequency ultrasound therapy.