Effect of Anodal and Cathodal Microamperage Electrical Stimulation on Injury Potential and Size of Acute Wound in Guinea Pig

It is believed that injury potential has a regulatory role in wound healing process and the application of exogenous electrical stimulation may serve to mimic the natural endogenous bioelectric current so that can improve the wound healing. Up to now, this hypothesis has not been researched in surgically acute wounds. Thirty nine male guinea pigs were randomly divided into one control group (sham treated) and two experimental groups (one DC anodal and one DC cathodal group). A full thickness skin incision having a length of 2.5 cm was made on the dorsum of each animal at a distance of 1 cm from spinous processes. The differential surface skin potential was measured before and immediately after the injury and also through the healing process until 21st days. Also the wound surface area was measured through the healing process. Immediately after the injury, the wound site potential in all three groups increased significantly and reached its maximum at day 1 in the control and cathodal group and day 3 in anodal group (p<0.05). Only in anodal group, there was not significant difference between the basal initial potential and the wound potential at 1