P.E.M.F. Therapy of Chronic Wounds
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Sponsor
- Enrollment
- 120
- Primary Endpoint
- Time to complete healing
Study Overview
Brief Summary
To measure the effectiveness of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) as an adjunct wound care therapy.
Detailed Description
The goal of the three-arm trial is to employ application of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) directly over chronic wounds combined with standard of care local wound therapy (SOC). Three different PEMF devices, one a low power system (LP-PEMF), another a high power system (HP-PEMF) and the third a sham device that does not emit energy (S-PEMF) will be employed as adjuncts to standard wound care. The primary hypothesis to be tested is that exposure of wounds to one of the PEMF devices leads to significantly better and faster healing than the sham system.
Research Design:
An investigator initiated, prospective, double blinded parallel three arm treatment study. Subjects are randomized to receive one of the three PEMF devices (LP-PEMF, HP-PEMF or sham device) twice daily for 15 minutes directly over a wound. Initially, 40 subjects from each treatment group will be enrolled for total of 120 subjects at VA Long Beach Healthcare System (VALB) at the interim analysis. Based on the results of that analysis, one of the treatment arms will be eliminated and a follow-up study will continue with the remaining two arms. Additional 60 to 100 subjects are to be enrolled after interim analysis and the study may expand to Greater Los Angeles Medical Center. The study is expected to last 2 years.
Participating eligible subjects will be asked to come to the VALB once a week for 14 weeks and then for 2 or 3 visits over 8 more weeks. The total number of visits including the first visit could be up to 17 visits in 5 months. The study has three phases: Screening phase (2 weeks); Treatment phase (12 weeks); and Follow-up phase (8 weeks). Subjects participation in the study may last up to 22 weeks, but subjects who heal early during the Treatment phase will have a reduced period of participation based on when their wound heals.
Methodology
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- Double (Participant, Care Provider)
Masking Description
Random, at time of enrollment
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 21 Years to 80 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria
- •Age must be at least 21 years old at the time of signing consent. 8.2 The index study ulcer size must be between 2.0 and 30.0 cm2 at the time of randomization. Measurements and photographs will to be taken after sharp debridement if performed at the Randomization Visit.
- •The index ulcer must have been present for at least 6 weeks prior to randomization.
- •If more than one ulcer is present on the target limb, the largest eligible ulcer should be deemed the study ulcer. Other ulcers close to the study ulcer are allowed and may be of any size. However, they should be > 2cm away from the study ulcer. Ulcers are allowed at other locations such as the on the contralateral limb. Other ulcers present besides the index study wound can be treated with different local care but cannot be treated with the PEMF device.
- •Only one site of application of the PEMF device is allowed and the PEMF device must be placed directly over the study ulcer.
- •Subjects to be enrolled into the VLU group must have had a duplex ultrasound study (if not done within six months prior the first screening visit) to document venous disease (deep system obstruction or reflux > 0.5 sec, or superficial system reflux > 0.5 sec, or have the characteristic hyperpigmentation and skin changes (lipodermatosclerosis) typical of venous disease.
- •Diabetic Foot Ulcer (DFU): Subjects should have with neuropathy demonstrated by monofilament testing and have Wagner grade 1 wounds without involvement of tendon, bone, or joint.
- •Pressure Ulcer (PU): PU subject wounds must be stage 3 without deep structure involvement such as bone, tendon, or joint.
Exclusion Criteria
- •Wounds due to autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or vasculitis.
- •Exposed structures deep to the adipose layer of skin such as muscle, fascia, tendon, joint, or bone.
- •The presence of sinus tracts that have not been sufficiently marsupialized such that the wound depth cannot be assessed by gross visual inspection is an exclusion.
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Time to complete healing
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Complete re-epithelization of wound
Wound closure
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Squared milimeters of wound closure
Secondary Outcomes
- Device effectiveness(12 weeks)
- Number and type of adverse events(12 weeks)