Shockwave Therapy for Diabetic Foot Ulcers: Review and Meta-Analysis
Title: Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy for Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Louise Helen Hitchman, Joshua P. Totty, Ali Raza, Paris Cai, George E. Smith, Daniel Carradice, Tom Wallace, Amy E. Harwood, and Ian C. Chetter
Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a common complication of diabetes, affecting over 10% of patients and causing significant health issues. Researchers from the United Kingdom conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) in treating DFUs.
The study analyzed data from five trials involving 255 patients published between 2009 and 2016. Three studies compared ESWT to standard wound care, while two studies compared it to hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The researchers found that ESWT was superior to standard wound care in terms of complete wound healing and time to healing. Additionally, DFU healing improved more with ESWT compared to hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
In conclusion, shockwave therapy shows potential for improving healing in diabetic foot ulcers. However, more high-quality research is needed before it can be recommended as a standard treatment option.