Ultrasound Speeds Healing of Chronic Leg Ulcers When administered weekly in addition to standard therapy

Standard treatment for chronic leg ulcers (weekly cleansing and application of a paste bandage and a support bandage) was administered to 56 patients, while 52 received, In addition, weekly pulsed ultrasound (0.5 watt/cm2 at 1 mHz) In a randomlsed study. The tnal continued for 12 weeks or until the ulcer healed.

41 patients in each group completed the study. The ultrasound treatment group fared significantly better than the control group when cumulative percentages healed were assessed throughout the trial. The difference was still significant when withdrawals due to pain or deterioration were considered as treatment failures Reduction in ulcer size was 20% greater in the ultrasound-treated group than in the control group at 4 weeks (p < 0.05) and 18% greater at 12 weeks (p = 0.02)

'Ultrasound therefore seems to be useful in the healing of chronic leg ulceration when used as an adjunct to a standard regimen that provides compression.' Call am MJ Harper DR Dale JJ Ruckley CV Prescott RJ Lancet 2 204-206 25 Jul 1987

0156-2703/87/0808-0013/0$01.00/0 © ADIS Press INPHARMA· 8 August 1987 13