The use of a portable, wearable form of pulsed radio frequency electromagnetic energy device for the healing of recalcitrant ulcers: a case report

Abstract

Pulsed radio frequency energy (PRFE) has successfully been used to treat diabetic and venous stasis ulcers. In this case report, a lightweight wearable form of a PFRE device was evaluated and used to treat three diabetic foot ulcers and one venous stasis ulcer. The ulcers were present on the four patients for more than 3 months and had failed to heal after conventional treatment. A lightweight battery-powered, wearable form of PRFE device was introduced as a treatment and used 6-8 hours per day for a period of 6 weeks. All patients after 1 week of therapy showed improvement and wound size was seen to decrease. Patient 1 had a venous stasis ulcer, and reported significant pain relief after 2 weeks treatment. Patients 2 and 3 achieved complete healing after 3 weeks treatment, and patients 1 and 4 had a 95% and 88% reduction in wound size, respectively, after the 6-week study period. Both these patients continued to complete healing using the PRFE device after the 6-week study period. PRFE treatment delivered in the form of a wearable lightweight patch appears to offer promise in the treatment of recalcitrant chronic wounds.

Figure 1

The venous stasis ulcer of patient 1 is shown at weeks 0, 2, 4 and 6 of PRFE treatment. Significant pain relief was reported by the patient after 2 weeks treatment. The ulcer had decreased in size from 4·0 × 2·5 cm to 0·7 × 0·5 cm after 6 weeks PRFE treatment. The ulcer continued onto healing using the PRFE therapy.

Figure 2

Patient 2 had a 0·5 × 0·5 cm diabetic ulcer at the beginning of PRFE treatment, which healed after 3 weeks PRFE therapy. The ulcer at weeks 0, 1 and 3 is shown.

Figure 3

Patient 3 had a 4·0 × 1 cm diabetic ulcer on the left heel. After 3 weeks of PRFE treatment the ulcer had completely healed. The ulcer is shown at weeks 0, 1, 2 and 3.

Figure 4

The latest version of the PRFE device is shown, consisting of a small control module and a wire antenna, either 12 cm or 8 cm. The PRFE device is used 24 hours per day, is lightweight weighing approximately 8 g and provides treatment continuously for 7 days.

Figure 5

A version of the PRFE device is shown in use on a patient with a venous stasis ulcer.