PRESSURE ULCERS RESPONSES TO IONTOPHORESIS

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate pressure ulcers Reponses to iontophoresis. At Agouza Rehabilitation Center and Inpatients 'd Departments Neurosurgery Unit at Cairo University Hospitals 40 male patients suffering from pressure ulcers with incomplete spinal cord injuries participated in this study. Twenty patients were treated with placebo iontophoresis and regular wound care (group I). The other twenty patients were treated with zinc iontophoresis in addition to the regular wound care (group 2). Evaluation of pressure ulcers was through measuring the wound surface area (WSA) pre, post 12 days and post 24 days by tracing method according to Bohannon and Pfaller (1983). There was no significant difference in the WSA between both groups before starting the treatment procedure. While there was a significant ) difference between both groups (P> 0.05) after 12 days of treatment application. Also there was a significant difference between both groups (P> 0.05) after 24 days of treatment application. It has been concluded that the application of zinc iontophoresis treatment is a valuable method for treating and improving rate of healing process of patients with incomplete spinal cord injuries and had pelvic pressure ulcers.