INTRODUCTION: Following the discovery of the presence of electric fields in tissue injury, started to employ the external application of electric currents in wound healing. Based on these concepts, studies show that high-frequency (HF) electrical stimulation is designed as a useful option in the healing process. Despite this statement, there is no consensus among researchers for its use in the treatment of skin disorders and is used empirically in the treatment of chronic wounds. OBJECTIVE: To explore the application of high frequency generator in the treatment of pain, scarring and surface areas of pressure ulcers (PU). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Controlled clinical trial pilot study carried out in the Intensive Care Unit of Hospital de Clínicas of Paraná. Sample of 8 subjects (age of 49.6 ± 15.9) diagnosed with II and III level degree of UP, following the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP) classification. Subjects were split between groups: control (n = 2) and high frequency daily treatment (n = 10) in a period of 10 days. We assessed pain (by visual analog scale - VAS), the ulcer healing process (Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing - PUSH Toll and the Pressure Score Status Tool - PSST) and ulcer surface area (planimetry and ImageJ). RESULTS: A significant effect within group (before and after intervention) of high frequency generator treatment on the process of healing (PUSH Tool before: 8.6 ± 5.8; after: 5.1 ± 5.5; p = 0.04 and PSST before: 31.3 ± 5.6; after: 18 ± 6.5; p = 0.02), and on ulcer surface area (planimetry before: 690.3±622.6; after: 470 ± 642.4; p= 0.02 and ImageJ before: 786.5 ± 690; after: 537.0 ± 719.3; p = 0.02). Also, we found a significant difference between group (control and high frequency), p = 0.04. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of high frequency generator caused improvement in healing UP patients. Although, we need more studies with larger number of subjects in order to confirm the findings. Regarding the UP treatment domain, this study adds in the searching for alternative interventions.
Pressure ulcer; Wound healing; Electrical stimulation
