Evaluating Use of Noncontact Low-frequency Ultrasound for Treatment of Present on Admission and Hospital Acquired Suspected Deep Tissue Injury in the Acute Care Setting: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate management of suspected deep tissue injury (sDTI) using Non-contact low frequency ultrasound (NLFU) therapy, to compare outcomes of hospital-acquired pressure ulcer (HAPU) versus present on admission (POA) sDTI treated with NLFU therapy, and evaluate ability to successfully treat sDTI located on the heel with NLFU therapy.

METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed evaluating patients treated with NLFU during a 13-month period. Charts in which data were missing or incomplete, patients having sDTI within the base of an existing ulcer, and patients with multiple sDTIs were excluded from this study. 

RESULTS: Sample size consisted of 44 subjects. Both patients with HAPU sDTI and POA sDTI exhibited a decrease in sDTI size. Mean size in cm² of injury from initiation to discontinuation of NLFU decreased from 24.6 centimeter² (cm²) to 14.4cm². HAPU and POA sDTI exhibited similar percentage of wounds classified as resolved (27% vs. 18%). Mean size of heel sDTIs decreased significantly from 15.9cm² to 13.4cm² with NLFU therapy. Wounds were classified as resolved at completion of treatment in 23% of all treated patients. Of all patients with the potential to be resolved (i.e., not discharged early, died), 63% had wounds classified as resolved (10/16).

CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that NLFU is a viable and promising treatment option for both HAPU and POA sDTI, as it significantly decreases the size of these injuries. Additionally, heel ulcers displayed decreased size, suggesting that NLFU may also be of benefit to these wounds. Future studies are needed to determine patients in whom this therapy is non-efficacious due to disease state.