Table 3 Characteristics of included studies
Primary author | Outcomes measured | Study design | Number allocated to (a) experimental and (b) control groups | Mean age years (SD) | % female | Mean duration of disease in months (SD) | Ulcer classification | ESWT protocol |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Moretti [26] | Rate of re-epithelialization | RCT | (a) 15 | 56.2 ± 4.9 | 40 | UD | Neuropathic (diabetic) plantar foot ulceration ≥6 months duration; area >1 cm2 and diameter between 0.5 and 5 cm | 3 sessions (every 72 hours); 100 pulses per 1 cm2; EFD 0.03 mJ/mm2 |
15 | 56.8 ± 7.5 | 53 | UD | |||||
Saggini [27] | Exudate, | Quasi-experimental | (a) 30 | 58.5 | 43 | 5.3 | Venous ulcers; diabetic ulcers; unresponsive to conservative care for ≥3 months duration | 4 to 10 sessions; 100 impulses per 1 cm2; EFD 0.037 mJ/mm2; frequency of 4 Hz or 240 impulses/min |
Granulation and | 10 | 66.6 | 40 | 5.2 | ||||
Fibrin/necrotic tissue | ||||||||
Wang [28] | Healing rates | RCT | (a) 34 | 58.6 ± 12.6 | UD | 22.7 ± 20.9 | Diabetic foot ulcer >3 months duration | 3 treatments; repeat course performed in cases with incomplete healing; 300 plus 100 pulses per 1 cm2; EFD 0.11 mJ/cm2 |
Histopathological analysis | (a) 36 | 63.4 ± 10.3 | UD | 19.0 ± 19.5 | ||||
Wang [29] | Healing rates | RCT | (a) 39 | 60.5 ± 14.0 | UD | 6* (3 to16) | Diabetic foot ulcer >3 months duration | 6 treatments; Ulcer size dependent treatment; minimum 500 pulses; EFD 0.27 mJ/cm2 |
Histopathological analysis | (a) 38 | 62.5 ± 14.0 | UD | 6* (6 to10) | ||||
Schaden [17] | Safety and feasibility of ESWT | Case-series | (a) 31 | 61.0 | 48 | UD | Complicated, non-healing, acute and chronic venous and arterial ulcers | Mean sessions 1.9 to 3.7; 100 impulses per 1 cm2; EFD 0.1 mJ/mm2 |