Extracorporeal shock wave therapy as a treatment of a non-healing chronic leg ulcer

Stieger, Marco; Schmid, Jean-Paul; Bajrami, S.; Hunziker, Thomas (2013). Extracorporeal shock wave therapy as a treatment of a non-healing chronic leg ulcer. Hautarzt, 64(6), pp. 443-446. Springer-Verlag 10.1007/s00105-012-2527-4

Preview

Text art%3A10.1007%2Fs00105-012-2527-4.pdf - Published Version Available under License Publisher holds Copyright. Download (517kB) | Preview

Extracorporeal shock waves are defined as a sequence of sonic pulses characterized by high peak pressure over 100 MPa, fast pressure rise, and short lifecycle. In the 1980s extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) was first used for the treatment of urolithiasis. Orthopedic surgeons use extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) to treat non-union fractures, tendinopathies and osteonecrosis. The first application of ESWT in dermatology was for recalcitrant skin ulcers. Several studies in the last 10 years have shown that ESWT promotes angiogenesis, increases perfusion in ischemic tissues, decreases inflammation, enhances cell differentiation and accelerates wound healing. We successfully treated a non-healing chronic venous leg ulcer with ESWT. Furthermore we observed an improvement of the lymphatic drainage after application of ESWT. We are confident that ESWT is a non-invasive, practical, safe and efficient physical treatment modality for recalcitrant leg ulcers.

Interest & Impact

Downloads

364 since deposited on 18 Aug 2014
55 in the past 12 months

Citations

5 Citations in Web of Science ®
6 Citations in Scopus

Search

in Google Scholar™

Services

Actions (login required)

Edit item

Actions (login required)

Edit item