The Effect of Pulsed Electromagnetic Energy (Diapulse®) on the Survival of Experimental Skin Flaps: A Study on Rats

Abstract

Experimental skin flaps in rats were treated with an active/non-active Diapulse® unit in a double-blind trial to clarify whether or not pulsed electromagnetic energy had any effect on the surviving length of flaps. The observed differences in surviving flap areas between the Diapulse®treated group and the untreated group as compared to the predicted survival by fluoresceine and/or vital capillary television microscopy were not statistically significant (p <0.10) in a set up, that on a significance level of 5%, would have detected an enhancement of flap survival of ≥10% in 98% of trials.