Current research in the field of microcurrent therapy in wound healing

In the past most research in the area of wound healing with microcurrent electrical stimulation therapy are heavily attained in animal studies, such as the one applied on horses that Jerry introduced in the first blog. Similarly to most newly developed treatments, the information involving the background mechanism still remains speculative, and gaps still exists in the current understanding of specific cellular and functional targets, therapeutic dose, and the gold standards to achieve optimal wound healing. The following paragraphs will try to provide the most current research in the field of microcurrent therapy, to support this still evolving treatment technique.

In the research field of microcurrent therapy in wound healing, animals were widely used to study, which illustrates that this treatment is still in a development and evolving stage. In 2004, the effect of microcurrent was tested on rats whose skin had undergone trichloracetic acid peeling. 32 hairless male adult rats were randomly divided into groups, with a control group versus experimental group with microcurrent stimulation. The results show there was homogeneous epithelial regeneration, more evident healing scar and epidermis thickening seen in the experimental group compared to control. The amount of fibroblasts was greater than the control group, presenting more compact and eosinophitic collagen, with a statistically significant difference (p<0.01). Clear evidence was shown in the increased number of fibroblasts, and is illustrated in the photomicrograph figure 2: the experimental group’s skin in day 21 post skin peeling, compared to figure 1: the control group  (Santos et al., 2004).

Figure 1: Photomicrograph of control group rat skin 21 days after skin peeling.



Figure 2: Photomicrograph of experimental group rat skin 21 days after skin peeling

In 2011, the effect of microcurrent was tested on surgically induced wounds on 36 male Wilstar rats. They were randomly divided into 4 groups; 1) control, 2) topical application of the extract, 3) treatment with microcurrent, 4) and topical application for the extract plus microcurrent. The simultaneous application of topical application for the extract plus microcurrent was found to be highly effective and significant (p<0.05), with positive effects on the area of newly formed tissue, number of fibroblasts, number of newly formed blood vessels, and epithelial thickness (de et al., 2011).

Research on the application of microcurrent therapy only begun recently. In 2007, the use of continuous direct anodal microcurrent was tested on wound closure after split-thickness skin grafting on burn wounds. As for thermal injury the processes that speed up time to stable wound closure could improve the outcome strongly, by decreasing complications such as infection, scarring and graft failure. This is a randomized clinical trial tested on 30 patients with full-thickness thermal burns, randomized into two groups. The control group recieved postoperative dressing care using moistened silver nylon fabric covered with gauze; the experimental group was similar with the addition of continuous direct microcurrent application. The results show that the experimental group experienced a 36% reduction in time to wound closure, and was statistically significant (P<0.05) (Huckfeldt, Flick, Mikkelson, Lowe, & Finley, 2007).

In 2007, the efficacy of ultra-low microcurrent was tested on treating chronic resistant wounds. All 23 patients were presented with chronic skin ulcers for an average of 17months, who were all not responsive to standard conservative treatment. The result showed that 34.8% of patients were able to achieve complete wound healing, and 39.1% achieved more than half of healing, with several patients obtaining significant results after 1-2 treatments. In 2010, the same research group published another article, this time focusing on patients with diabetes mellitus, hypertension and chronic wounds. The results showed that the wounds on the patient were markedly healed (30-100% closure) (Lee, Wendell, Al-Waili, & Butler, 2007; Lee et al., 2010).

However, these last two research articles leaned towards more promotional type of research, both using an Electro Pressure Regeneration Therapy (EPRT) device (EPRT Technologies-USA, Simi Valley, CA), therefore putting the validation in doubt. Moreover, both tests did not go through any statically significant tests and protocols used to measure the wound changes alone with treatment, and did not explain how the theory behind the device works.

The evidence from cellular and animal studies shows strong association between microcurrent stimulation and improved wound healing. However, the field of reliable and valid human research, and development of understanding in the mechanism, standard therapeutic procedure and dose still require further research in the future.

References:

de, G. d. G. F. O., Foglio, M. A., de Carvalho, J. E., Santos, G. M., Testa, M., Passarini, J. R., Jr., . . . Mendonca, F. A. (2011). Effects of the Topical Application of Hydroalcoholic Leaf Extract of Oncidium flexuosum Sims. (Orchidaceae) and Microcurrent on the Healing of Wounds Surgically Induced in Wistar Rats. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2011, 950347. doi: 10.1155/2011/950347

Huckfeldt, R., Flick, A. B., Mikkelson, D., Lowe, C., & Finley, P. J. (2007). Wound closure after split-thickness skin grafting is accelerated with the use of continuous direct anodal microcurrent applied to silver nylon wound contact dressings. J Burn Care Res, 28(5), 703-707. doi: 10.1097/BCR.0B013E318148C94501253092-200709000-00010

Lee, B. Y., AL-Waili, N., Stubbs, D., Wendell, K., Butler, G., AL-Waili, T., & AL-Waili, A. (2010). Ultra-low microcurrent in the management of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and chronic wounds: Report of twelve cases and discussion of mechanism of action. Int. J. Med. Sci, 7 (1), 29-35.

Lee, B. Y., Wendell, K., Al-Waili, N., & Butler, G. (2007). Ultra-low microcurrent therapy: a novel approach for treatment of chronic resistant wounds. Adv Ther, 24(6), 1202-1209. doi: 704 [pii]

Santos, V. N. S., Ferreira, L. M., Horibe, E. K., & Duarte, I. d. S. (2004). Electric microcurrent in the restoration of the skin undergon a trichloroacetic acid peeling in rats. Acta Cir Bra, 19 (5), 466-469.