Microcurrent electrotherapy improves palatal wound healing: Randomized clinical trial

Manuela Maria Viana Miguel 1, Ingrid Fernandes Mathias-Santamaria 1 2, Amanda Rossato 1, Laís Fernanda Ferreira Ferraz 1, Antônio Martins Figueiredo-Neto 2, Andrea Carvalho de Marco 1, Renato Corrêa Viana Casarin 3, Shannon Margaret Wallet 4, Dimitris N Tatakis 5, Marcio Antonio Mathias 6, Mauro Pedrine Santamaria

Main idea: Within the limits of the present study, it can be concluded that the use of a low-intensity electrotherapy protocol may accelerate palatal wound healing and decrease patient discomfort after FGG harvest.

Abstract

Background: This study was conducted to assess the clinical, immunological, and patient-centered outcomes of microcurrent electrotherapy on palatal wound healing.

Methods: This was a parallel, double-masked randomized clinical trial, in which 53 patients with ridge preservation indications were selected and randomly assigned to one of two groups. In the control (sham) group, palatal wounds, after free gingival grafts (FGG) harvest, received sham application of electrotherapy. In the test (electrotherapy treatment [EE]) group, palatal wounds, after FGG harvest, received application of microcurrent electrotherapy protocol. Clinical parameters, patient-centered outcomes, and inflammatory markers were evaluated, up to 90 days postoperatively.

Results: The EE group achieved earlier wound closure and epithelialization at 7 and 14 days after harvest when compared with the sham group. Painful symptomatology was reported less frequently in the EE group than in the sham group at 3-day follow-up. Likewise, an improvement in Oral Health Impact Profile was reported 2 days after the procedure by the EE group. In addition, favorable modulation of inflammatory wound healing markers occurred when electrotherapy was applied.

Source NIH