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Case Series/Study
6.5 million patients have chronic wounds in the Unites States. Factors such as diabetes and obesity have caused a rapid increase in the health care costs for wound treatment in recent years. Use of the low frequency non-contact non thermal ultrasound (LFNCNTU) is one of the most effective treatments for the promotion of healing of burns, ulcers, and other open wounds. This treatment has led to an area reduction of 85.2% after 7 weeks in certain studies. 1 Saline is most often used as the noncontact fluid in these procedures and has been shown to benefit the healing of these kinds of wounds. However. hypochlorous acid has been shown to greatly increase the rate of wound healing among patients being treated with the low frequency non-contact thermal ultrasound. 2 Hypochlorous acid is an agent used for the debridement and cleansing of open wounds. Its antimicrobial properties allow it to effectively reduce bioburden and its pH is close to that of normal human skin. Hypochlorous acid has reduced cytotoxicity compared to other wound irrigants. This case study presents an alternative approach to managing open wounds using 0.033% hypohlorous acid, as the noncontact fluid in the low frequency non-contact thermal ultrasound technique for wound management.
Methods:
A total of 9 wounds on 8 patients underwent were seen three times a week for wound assessment and treatment with 0.033% hypochlorous acid delivered via LFNCNTU. Treatment included physical debridement once weekly to remove necrotic tissue and slough from the wound.
Results:
This case series consisted of five females and three males with a mean age of 80.125 years. Mean wound size at first application of the LFNCNTU was 15.35 centimeters squared. All wounds closed, with an average time to wound closure of 40.22 days after 12.67 applications of the low frequency non-contact thermal ultrasound.
Discussion:
Applications of the LFNCNTU using 0.033% hypochlorous acid may offer an effective approach to managing non-healing wounds. The antimicrobial properties of this agent have also shown to benefit patients with infections. To confirm our findings, additional research with a larger sample size and a randomized or comparative approach is required.
Trademarked Items:
References: 1. UltraMIST® system. Sanuwave. April 1, 2021. https://sanuwave.com/our-products/energy-systems/ultramist-system/.
2. Product technology overview: Vashe® wound solution by SteadMed Medical, LLC. WoundSource. December 29, 2020..
3. Bowers S, Franco E. Chronic wounds: Evaluation and management. American Family Physician. February 1, 2020..
4. About Vashe Wound Solution OTC. Vashe OTC. Accessed June 6, 2023. https://vasheotc.com/.
5. Sen CK. Human wounds and its burden: An updated compendium of estimates. Advances in wound care. February 1, 2019. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6389759/.