Clinical Evidence
The European Wound Management Association (EWMA) has acknowledged that electrical stimulation is effective in treating a wide range of wound types including venous leg ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, pressure ulcers and mixed ulcers.
Evidence supporting electrical stimulation for wound healing
Many studies have investigated the use of electrical stimulation in wounds and the evidence base in this area is strong with five meta-analyses, six systematic reviews and over 30 RCTs reporting the benefits of the therapy (the diagram demonstrates evidence for electrical stimulation). Electrical stimulation is proven to improve healing whilst reducing pain and inflammation. Specific subsensory stimulation from devices such as Accel-Heal is safe to use. For an overview of these papers click here.
Accel-Heal evidence
23 published articles, including 10 papers and 13 posters, describe the effects of Accel-Heal. These articles describe the results of 160 patients treated with Accel-Heal published in the clinical literature.
Clinical studies
CLINICAL EVALUATION OF THE RESPONSE RATE TO A CONTINUOUSLY ACTIVE, SINGLE-USE ELECTRICAL STIMULATION DEVICE IN STATIC NON-HEALING WOUNDS (PDF)
Kurz P, Danner G and Martin R. Presented at EWMA 2022
EASE OF USE OF WEARABLE, SINGLE USE ELECTRICAL STIMULATION DEVICE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF HARD TO HEAL WOUNDS (PDF)
Cancela C, Cruz M, Kaha E, Kurz P and Leemet H. Presented at EWMA 2022
AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO MANAGE PAIN AND STIMULATE HEALING IN ARTERIAL ULCERS USING ELECTRICAL STIMULATION THERAPY (PDF)
Terrill P and Ovens L. Presented at EWMA 2022
Electrical stimulation therapy and electroceutical treatment for the management of venous leg ulcers (PDF)
Ovens L, British Journal of Community Nursing, March 2017, 22 Suppl 3, p S28-S36
The results of a clinical evaluation of Accel-Heal® electroceutical treatment in a large NHS Trust (PDF)
Nicola Turner, Tissue Viability Nurse Staffordshire and Stoke-on Trent partnership Trust (SSOTP) & Liz Ovens, Independent Tissue Viability Nurse and Associate Lecturer Bucks New University, Wounds UK, Vol 13, No 4, 2017, p 80-99
Supporting the Triple Aim Framework objectives in Scotland using an innovative electroceutical therapy* to improve clinical and economic benefits for patients with venous leg ulcers (VLUs) (PDF)
Ovens EWMA 2019. Citation: Ovens et al, Presented at EWMA 2019
Improving clinical outcomes and reducing the cost of venous leg ulcers (VLUs) using an externally applied electroceutical therapy* in a Community NHS Trust (PDF)
Ovens 2019: Citation: Presented at Wounds UK, 2018
Effectiveness of a single-use, portable electrical stimulation device in vascular foot ulcers (PDF)
Kiernan et al 2020: Presented at EWMA 2020
Right Care, Right Time - An evaluation using an electroceutical treatment* to determine the clinical outcomes in a large NHS Trust (PDF)
Poster presentation by Nicola Turner, Tissue Viability Nurse in a large community NHS partnership Trust & Liz Ovens, Independent Tissue Viability Nurse and Associate Lecturer Bucks New University, Wounds UK November 2017
Application of Accel-Heal® for patients with chronic venous leg ulcers: an evaluation in a community UK NHS trust (PDF)
Ovens, L. Wounds UK, issue 02-07-2019. Citation: Ovens, L. Wounds UK 2019;15(3):78-84
Breaking the cycle of hard-to-heal wounds with electroceutical treatment (PDF)
Liz Ovens, Independent Tissue Viability Nurse and Associate Lecturer Bucks New University, Wounds UK Bristol Nurse Symposium, October 2017
Using electroceutical treatment to reduce symptoms and improve healing in chronic wounds (PDF)
Ovens EM, Primary Health Care, Vol 27, No 6, July 2017, p 22-27
Improving patient quality of life with innovative electroceutical technology: case series (PDF)
Greaves T, Wounds Uk, Vol 10, No 4, 2014
Electroceutical therapy to manage complex leg ulcers; a case series of three patients (PDF)
Liz Ovens, Wounds UK, Vol 10, No 2, 2014, p79 – 83
Changes in S100 Proteins Identified in Healthy Skin following Electrical Stimulation: Relevance for Wound Healing (PDF)
Lalyatt et al 2018. Citation: Advances in Skin & Wound Care; 31(7):322-327
Modelling the cost-effectiveness of electric stimulation therapy in non-healing venous leg ulcers (PDF)
Taylor et al 2011. Journal of Wound Care;20(10):464-472
Single-use Automated Microcurrent Electrical Stimulation Therapy Accelerates Re-epithelialization in an In-vitro Human Skin Wound Model (PDF)
Priscilla LK LIM, Yamini BALAKRISHNAN, Declan LUNNY, David LEAVESLEY, Carine BONNARD
Case studies
Improving outcomes through innovation: An evaluation of Accel-Heal® in chronic wounds (PDF)
Griffin J. Wounds UK 2013, Harrogate
Improving patient quality of life with innovative electroceutical technology (PDF)
Greaves T. Wounds UK 2014 Poster, Wounds UK 2014 Conference, November 2014
Accel-Heal®: a new therapy for chronic wounds (PDF)
Tadej et al 2010. Journal of Community Nursing 2010;4(5):16-20
Management of recurrent venous leg ulcer with electroceutical therapy* to improve pain, expedite healing and reduce risk of recurrence (PDF)
Louison et al. Citation: Presented at EWMA 2015
An audience survey of practice relating to pain in the management of chronic venous leg ulcers (PDF)
Atkin L and Martin R. 2020. J. Community Wound Care. Dec 2020; S20-S23.
Alternative approaches need to be considered for managing venous leg ulcers failing to heal despite high compression therapy: A case study to demonstrate the effectiveness of using electrical stimulation therapy (EST) alongside compression therapy. (PDF)
Karen Layflurrie Clinical Lead Leg Ulcer Services HertsOne and Central London Community Healthcare Trust
Liz Ovens Independent Tissue Viability Specialist Nurse
USE OF A NOVEL ELECTRICAL STIMULATION DEVICE TO KICKSTART HEALING IN TWO PATIENTS WITH LOWER LIMB ULCERS COMPLICATED BY DIABETES MELLITUS (PDF)
Dr Salma Alktebi and Dr Amira Al Adab
Wound Care and Plastic Surgery Team, Al Qassimi hospital, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
What Is the Role of Electrical Stimulation Therapy? (PDF)
Liz Ovens Independent Tissue Viability Specialist Nurse
Ovens 2022. Wound Masterclass – Vol 1 – June 2022: 36-46
Powering the progression of hard-to- heal wounds with electrical stimulation: observational analysis of wounds treated with Accel-Heal (PDF)
Harikrishna KR Nair, Professor and Head of the Wound Care Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
Nair 2022. Wounds Asia: Products and Technology. 37-46
Cost-effectiveness
Cost-effectiveness of a single-use portable electrical stimulation device in the management of venous leg ulcers (PDF)
Posnett et al 2020. Citation, Presented at EWMA 2020
Cost-effectiveness of an electroceutical device in treating non-healing venous leg ulcers: results of an RCT (PDF)
Guest et al 2018. Citation Journal of Wound Care 27;4:230-243
Study to evaluate the effect of low-intensity pulsed electrical currents on levels of oedema in chronic non-healing wounds (PDF)
Young et al 2011. Citation: Journal of Wound Care; 20(8):1-5
Clinical outcomes and cost effectiveness of an externally applied electroceutical device in managing venous leg ulcers in clinical practice in the UK (PDF)
Guest JF, Ayoub N, et al. JWC, 2015, 24 (12)
Getting it right for patients and budgets (PDF)
Ovens, L. Wounds UK, Vol 11, No 3, 2015, p 96-101
Modelling the cost-effectiveness of electric stimulation therapy in non-healing venous leg ulcers (PDF)
Taylor et al 2011. Journal of Wound Care;20(10):464-472