Neuromuscular electrostimulation increases microcirculatory flux in mixed etiology leg ulcers

Harding, Keith Gordon, Blow, Melissa, Ashton, Faye and Bosanquet, David C 2025. Neuromuscular electrostimulation increases microcirculatory flux in mixed etiology leg ulcers. Advances in Skin & Wound Care 38 (1) , pp. 25-30. 10.1097/ASW.0000000000000261

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Abstract

To determine if intermittent neuromuscular electrostimulation (NMES) of the common peroneal nerve increases microvascular flow and pulsatility in and around the wound bed of patients with combined venous and arterial etiology. Seven consenting participants presenting with mixed etiology leg ulcers participated in this study. Microvascular flow and pulsatility was measured in the wound bed and in the skin surrounding the wound using laser speckle contrast imaging. Measurements were made at baseline and when the venous pumps of the leg were activated by 1 Hz intermittent neuromuscular stimulation of the common peroneal nerve. The nerve was stimulated transdermally at the head of the fibula. When activated by NMES, wound bed flux increased by 38% (95% CI, 11%-73%; P = .023), and periwound flux increased by 19% (95% CI, 9%-32%; P = .009). Pulsatility increased in the wound bed by 214% (95% CI, 51%-985%; P = .017) and in the periwound by 122% (95% CI, 38%-299%; P = .014). The results indicate that NMES is effective in augmenting microvascular flow in leg ulcers with combined venous and arterial etiology. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2025 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.]

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Medicine
Publisher:	Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
ISSN:	1527-7941
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	4 February 2025
Date of Acceptance:	17 April 2024
Last Modified:	04 Feb 2025 11:00
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/175892

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