Electromagnetic therapy for the treatment of venous leg ulcers

Abstract

Background: Electromagnetic therapy is used with the aim of improving the healing of chronic wounds such as pressure sores and venous leg ulcers

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of electromagnetic therapy in the treatment of venous leg ulcers

Search strategy: The Cochrane Wounds group search strategy was used (see Scope) to search for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of electromagnetic therapy for the treatment of venous leg ulcers

Selection criteria: Randomised controlled trials comparing electromagnetic therapy with sham electromagnetic therapy or other (standard) treatment

Data collection and analysis: Results of searches were scrutinised by one reviewer (and checked by a second) to identify possible RCTs and full reports of these were obtained. Details of eligible studies were extracted and summarised using a data extraction sheet. Attempts were made to obtain missing data by contacting authors. Data extraction was checked by a second reviewer.

Main results: A total of three eligible RCTs were identified. Two trials compared the use of electromagnetic therapy to sham (Ieran 1990; Kenkre 1996) and one trial (Stiller 1992) compared it with standard topical treatments. One of the trials found a difference in healing rates of borderline statistical significance between electromagnetic therapy and sham, although the direction of treatment effect was consistently in favour of electromagnetic therapy the difference was not statistically significant.

Reviewer's conclusions: There is currently no reliable evidence of benefit of electromagnetic therapy in the healing of venous leg ulcers.