Silver Nylon Info & Contraindications

Hey everyone, would just like to add some small elobaration to what was posted earlier mentioning Silver nylon use, as well as provide some contraindications for MET:

The application of Silver nylon used in conjunction with MET can be very beneficial for wound healing. The main benefit is the constant availability of free silver ions in the microbial environment (Huckfeldt, Flick, Mikkelson, Lowe, & Finley, 2007). These silver ions have strong germicidal effects through the blocking of cell respiration pathways, which helps add to the antimicrobial affect of microcurrent therapy (The facts about silver, 2000).

            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

The Facts about Silver. (2000). Retrieved from http://www.burnsurgery.org/Modules/silver/section2.htm

Contraindications

ANY RISKS to the practitioner / patients?

Practitioners will have to consider the patients’ conditions to apply an appropriate regime and target population. Although MET has shown it is beneficial in many tissue healing applications, there is little research showing whether there are negative effects of MET application.

Here are some examples for microcurrent treatment contraindications from commercial device companies:

1. Electrode should not apply across the carotid sinus (neck region).
2. MET should not be used on cardiac pacemaker and metal implant patients.
3. Electrode should not place through the head for therapy.
4. Electrode should not be placed on abdomen and uterus area.
5. MET should not be used until etiology is established.
6. MET should not use during pregnancy, delivery and lactation as it has not been established.
7. MET should not be used during other electronic monitoring equipment (such as ECG).
8. MET device should be kept out of the reach of children.
9. MET should be stopped or type of electrode changed if patients experience skin irritation or hypersensitivity.
10. MET might increase bleeding, dislodge clots and local infection due to increased blood flow and circulation.
11. Cancer patients and lower motor neuron damage individuals should not use MET as there is no well established studies.

There is no research suggesting that there are negative effects of MET on wound healing. However Kaslow (2011) suggested that there were side effects 90 minutes after treatment that  lasts for 4-24 hours, including nausea, fatigue, drowsiness, and a temporary flu like feeling. As mentioned previously, there is no standardised value for dosage, frequency, duration, gender, age, type of skin, moisture of skin (conductivity), electrical field related to wound type, and polarity (cathode/anode); it is therefore necessary to have further research conducted in these areas in order to avoid any risk of injury or further damage and allow MET to be widely used in hospital settings for reducing wound healing time.

References:

Dynatron 850 and Dynatron 550 plus Service Manual (2004). Retrieved from http://www.ersbiomedical.com/Manuals/Dynatron/D850D550plusService%206-04%20with%20schematics.pdf

Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) Indications and Contraindications. (2006). Retrieved from http://www.equinew.com/indicationscontraindication.htm

Kaslow, J.E.,(2011). Frequency Specific Micro-current. Retrieved from http:// http://www.drkaslow.com/html/frequency_specific_microcurren.html