Electrical stimulation increases blood flow and haemoglobin levels in acute cutaneous wounds without affecting wound closure time: evidenced by non-invasive assessment of temporal biopsy wounds in human volunteers.

Abstract

Recent studies highlighted the beneficial effects of a novel electrical stimulation waveform, the degenerate wave (DW), on skin fibroblasts and symptomatic skin scarring. However, no study to date has investigated the role of DW on acute cutaneous wounds. Therefore, we evaluated this in a trial using a temporal punch biopsy model. Twenty healthy volunteers had a biopsy performed on day 0 (left arm) and day 14 (right arm). On day 14, DW was applied. Participants were randomised into two groups. Objective non-invasive assessments were performed on days 0, 7, 14, 60 and 90 using spectrophotometric intracutaneous analysis and full-field laser perfusion imaging. There were statistically significant increases in mean flux on day 14 (P = 0.027) in the post-DW arm. Haemoglobin levels increased on day 7 for the post-DW arm compared to without DW (P = 0.088). Differences in melanin levels were higher post-DW on the left arm between randomised groups on day 90 (P = 0.033). Haemoglobin levels in the vascular ring increased significantly from day 7 to 90 (P < 0.001 for post-DW and without DW arms). This study, for the first time, shows that DW increases blood flow and haemoglobin levels in acute healing wounds without affecting wound closure time and may have potential application in enhancing acute cutaneous healing.