MicroVascular Therapy for Wounds

___Of all the possible mechanisms in the pathogenesis of wounds, ischemia and the resultant hypoxia it causes, is the largest obstacle to healing. The medical profession has been battling ischemia/hypoxia with vasodilators, growth factors, heating modalities, infrared light, and hyperbaric oxygen.
___MicroVascular Therapy (MVT) is a physical medicine modality which addresses the problem from a different perspective: working directly and mechanically to elevate blood flow through neuromuscular stimulation of the venous muscle pump.
In MVT, a MicroVas Vascular Treatment System generates ionic impulses which pass through the body, or an extremity, using strategically placed carbon emitter pads. The pads are positioned 180° from each other in groups of up to 8 pairs. The ionic impulses pass completely through the limb or body, creating circulation in the treated area through neuromuscular stimulation of the venous muscle pump, and by upregulating the metabolic process.
___Although little information exists concerning the MVT mechanism of action or efficacy, one study of 25 diabetics1 shows encouraging results (See chart 1).
While the 48% increase for the average patient after one 45 minute treatment is dramatic, the 157% increase in baseline for patient number 4, suggests that the benefits of treatment are cumulative and perhaps long-lasting. It is postulated that this is the result of angiogenesis, or perhaps the reversal of stenosis brought about through the repeated pulsations of increased blood flow at increased hydrostatic pressures.
___In terms of limb salvage, patient number 2 may be the single most dramatic example. In week one, with a TcPO2 reading of 0 before treatment and 2 after treatment, he represented an unsalvageable limb. After four weeks of treatment, he still reads only 3 before treatment and 8 after treatment: quite an improvement, but still not a salvageable limb. Following treatment in the eighth week, however, he reached a reading of 35--very likely a salvageable limb!

RSD Complicates Wound Healing

The patient suffered a minor fracture of her tibia and was given a plaster cast as part of her treatment. The pressure of the cast coupled with the patient's poor circulation, combined to create a pressure ulcer that ran down the side of her ankle, wrapped around the heel and up the other side of her ankle.

To compound the situation, or perhaps triggered by the series of events, the patient also developed Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (also known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) marked by a heightened sensitivity to dermal contact. The condition persisted even following spinal blocks for pain. Since she was unable to undergo debridement, or tolerate the use of topical dressings, her physician referred her
to a MicroVas treatment center.

MicroVascular Therapy (MVT) stimulates autolytic debridement and manages pain. At the MicroVas Treatment Center, the patient received MVT three times a week which did not cause her pain. At one point, the therapist tried a simple saline gel and the patient reacted with extreme pain (10/10) and it had to be washed off immediately.

Subsequently, the treatment regimen consisted of MicroVas treatments and sterile gauze dressings only. The photos at left show her remarkable progress over a 60 day time period.

"an inadequate vascular supply fails to provide the inducers, substrates, and oxygen necessary for wound healing."

Problem Wounds: How to Promote Healing, Prevent Recurrence. Consultant, 11/01/2000 Strauss, M.B.

Non-healing, post-surgery wound

___The patient is a 53 year old female diabetic who slipped and fell on some stairs. The fall resulted in a compound fracture of the leg with significant trauma to the surrounding tissue. She was transported to St. Francis hospital in Tulsa where the orthopedic surgeon on call, used plates attached with screws to stalilize the break. Four months later, because of poor circulation, the incision was showing no signs of healing, as shown in the top photo above. The patient was fearful of an amputation since the wound was growing worse.
___After the patient began MicroVas treatments, the effects were quickly apparent. Not only was the wound healing, but a fracture in the tibia was also healing. After 21 MicroVas treatments, the patient was examined by her doctor who was surprised to see the extent of healing that had occurred.