Table 3.

Summary of the clinical studies not included in the meta‐analysis

Author, year, country	Study design; treatment; control	Number of patients; incomplete/ complete (I/C); DOI	Number of pressure ulcers; Duration of ulcers (DOU); Stage (NPUAP)	Electrode placement; EST waveform; stimulus parameter; treatment schedule	Results		Study conclusion
					Control	ES
Adegoke and Badmos 43, Nigeria	RCT TRT: MPC CON: Sham MPC	MPC, n = 3 Sham MPC, n = 3 I/C: n/a DOI: n/a	MPC, n = 3 Sham MPC, n = 3 DOU: 10 ± 2·0 weeks Stage: IV	Active electrode applied directly over wound, dispersive applied on intact skin MPC: 30Hz, 2:1 on/off ratio Intensity: submotor 45 minutes/day × 3/week × 4 weeks	2·6 ± 0·0% ↓ in WSA	22·2 ± 1·4% ↓ in WSA	Significant ↓ in WSA in EST versus CON
Allen and Houghton 47, Canada	CS TRT: MPC	MPC, n = 1 I/C: 0/1 DOI: 30 years	MPC, n = 1 DOU: n/a Stage: III	Active electrode applied directly over wound, dispersive applied on intact skin MPC: rectangular, 140 microseconds, 128 Hz Intensity: n/a 30 minutes/day × 7 days/week × 12 weeks	n/a	19·85%/week	EST facilitates wound healing
Chalker 49, USA	CS TRT: BPC	BPC, n = 1 I/C: n/a DOI: n/a	BPC, n = 1 DOU: 4 weeks Stage: III	Hand‐held electrode applied directly over wound BPC: not specified Intensity: n/a 60 minutes/day × 7 days/week until healed	n/a	Ulcer healed	EST facilitates wound healing
Cukjati et al. 52, Slovenia	Retrospective CT TRT1: BPC TRT2: LIDC CON1: Sham LIDC CON2: SWC	214 patients (71·7% SCI) I/C: n/a DOI: 1–69 months	BPC, n = 181 LIDC, n = 42 Sham LIDC, n = 23 SWC, n = 54 DOU: 2–22 mos Stage: I–IV	BPC: Electrodes applied on opposite sides on the wound edge, 250 microseconds, 40 Hz, 4:4 on/off ratio Intensity: motor LIDC: Electrodes applied on opposite sides on the wound edge or active electrode applied over wound, four dispersive electrodes applied on edge around wound, 0·6 mA Intensity: subsensory 120 minutes/day × 7 days/week × 60 weeks	Sham LIDC: 0·162 mm/day SWC: 0·145 mm/day	BPC: 0·190 mm/day LIDC: 0·168 mm/day	WHR significantly faster in BPC versus CON
Pollack et al. 48, USA	CS TRT: MPC	MPC, n = 1 I/C: n/a DOI: 10 years	MPC, n = 1 DOU: 23 months Stage: IV	Electrodes applied over bilateral gluteus, hamstring, and quadriceps muscles MPC: rectangular, 400 microseconds, 60Hz Intensity: n/a 0·37–2·23 minutes × 2/week × 28 weeks	n/a	Ulcer healed	EST facilitates wound healing
Recio et al. 50, USA	RCS TRT: HVPC	HVPC, n = 3 I/C: 1/3 DOI: n/a	HVPC, n = 3 DOU: 11–14 months Stage: III–IV	Active electrode applied directly over wound, dispersive applied on intact skin HVPC: 10 microseconds, 100 Hz Intensity: submotor 60 minutes/day × 3–5/week until healed	n/a	95·58–100% ↓ in WSA	EST facilitates wound healing
Trontelj et al. 46, Slovenia	PCT TRT: Asym BPC CON: SWC	Asym BPC, n = 63 SWC, n = 43 I/C: n/a DOI: n/a	Asym BPC, n = 63 SWC, n = 43 DOU: n/a Stage: n/a	Electrodes applied on opposite sides on the wound edge Asym BPC: balanced, 1·25 milliseconds, 40 Hz, 4:4 on/off ratio Intensity: motor 120 minutes/day × 7 days/week until healed	2·60 ± 2·59%/day	4·89 ± 3·80%/day	WHR significantly faster in EST versus CON

Study design: CS, case study or case studies; CT, controlled trial; PCT, prospective controlled trial; RCS, retrospective case series; RCT, randomised controlled trial.

Treatment: Asym BPC, asymmetrical biphasic pulsed current; Sym BPC, symmetrical BPC; HVPC, high voltage pulsed current; LIDC, low intensity direct current; MPC, monophasic pulsed current.

Results: WHR, wound healing rate; WSA, wound surface area.

EST, electrical stimulation therapy; n/a, not available.