Wireless Micro Current Stimulation (WMCS) therapy to enhance burn wound healing: A randomized clinical trial

Wan Loong James Mok¹, Gale Lim¹, Yong Chen Por¹, Coreen Kim Kuan Low¹, Joanne Jovina Siow Huey Cheng¹, Herni Lutfiah Binte Hussein¹, Peggy Pei Yan Yeo¹, Shuxian Ho¹,
¹KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Singapore Singapore

Abstract

Introduction
Paediatric burn injuries represent almost half of burn injuries globally. Burn injuries associated with slow healing results in poor scarring, increased pain and longer hospital stay that adds to the cost of treatment. Therefore, any adjunctive treatments to aid in burn healing would make a significant impact to patient morbidity, healthcare burden and cost. This study aims to compare time to healing in paediatric burns patients who receive conventional dressings vs those receiving Wireless Micro Current Stimulation (WMCS) as adjunctive therapy. Secondary outcomes include risk of burn wound conversion and side effects of treatment.

Methods
Patients (n=80) with superficial partial thickness burns were recruited and randomized to conventional dressing vs WMCS treatment group. Patients were assessed and treated thrice weekly by 2 blinded plastic surgeons till complete epithelisation.

Results
Median days to healing in the conventional dressing group was 8 (range 2 to 21) days vs WMCS group which was 6 (range 2 to 12) days. (p=0.0057) A total of 6 burns converted to deeper injuries; 5 from conventional dressing group vs 1 from WMCS group. Side effects were comparable between groups.

Conclusion
WMCS represents an additional tool in the burn surgeon’s armamentarium to enhance wound healing. This is the first randomized controlled trial to show its positive impact on healing time and burn conversion in partial thickness burns and serves as a foundation onto which further studies can be performed.

Biography

Dr James Mok is a Consultant Plastic Surgeon working at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, and Assistant Professor at Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore. His subspecialty interests lie in paediatric plastic surgery and burn surgical innovation. He constantly employs cutting edge technology to improve patient care. With an entrepreneurial spirit and eye for invention, he seeks to revolutionise fem-tech and baby-tech in his current sphere; transforming palpable patient needs through high impact inventions and translating them for better patient outcomes.