Comparison of ultrasound therapy and radial shock wave therapy in the treatment of venous leg ulcers – clinical, pilot study

Introduction
Venous insufficiency and venous leg ulcers each year affect more and more people, especially in developed countries. The challenge of our time is to find an effective method of treating venous leg ulcers, which will further shorten treatment time and reduce the cost of treatment.

Aim
To compare the effects of treating venous leg ulcers using ultrasound therapy, radial shock wave therapy and standard care.

Material and methods
Group A consisted of 17 patients. Patients were treated with ultrasound therapy US power density 0.5 W/cm², pulsed wave with a duty cycle of 1/5, and 1 MHz frequency. Group B consisted of 17 patients. Patients were treated with the radial shock wave R-ESWT using surface energy density 0.17 mJ/mm², 100 impulses/cm², frequency of 5 Hz and a pressure of 0.2 MPa. Group C (control group) consisted of 17 patients. Patients in this group received standard care: gauze dressing saturated in 0.9% sodium chloride and elastic bandages changed daily for 4 weeks.

Results
Ultrasound therapy with 1 MHz and energy power density 0.5 W/cm² for 4 weeks resulted in an average reduction of 68% of the area of ulceration. We used for venous leg ulcers 4-week treatment with radial shock wave therapy resulting in a 38% mean percentage reduction of the ulceration area. Standard care reduces the area of ulceration by only 16%.

Conclusions
The use of ultrasound therapy for the treatment of venous leg ulcers is more effective than the use of radial shock wave therapy or standard care alone.