Abstract
Objectives: In diabetic amputees, the surgical stump wound is often the main cause for the delay in starting prosthetic rehabilitation. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of electromagnetic stimulation on the healing process of stump wounds in diabetic patients. Methods: Eighteen, recent diabetic amputees with infected and necrotic stump wounds participated in the study: 8 amputees were treated with electromagnetic stimulation while 10 amputees formed the control group. The expected time for stump wound healing was estimated on the admission day. Time differences between the expected and actual periods until complete healing of the wounds were calculated in both groups. Results: The mean total magnetic field treatment time in each subject was 44.3 ± 19.6 hours. The mean healing time was 27.8 ± 11.8 and 25.9 ± 9.9 days for the electromagnetic group and control group, respectively. The mean of differences between the estimated (over/under estimations) and actual times were -2.8 ± 16.4 and -9.8 ± 11.9 days in the electromagnetic and control groups, respectively. These differences were not significant. Conclusion: In the present study the efficacy of magnetic field on the healing process of infected stump wound in recent amputees was evaluated. In the manner we designed this study, a possible positive influence of electromagnetic stimulation on healing time of stump wounds in diabetic amputees was not confirmed.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 46-48 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Journal of Rehabilitation Sciences |
Volume | 9 |
Issue number | 2 |
State | Published - 1996 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- amputees
- diabetes mellitus
- electromagnetic stimulation
- stump wound