Efficacy of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy in the Management of Chronic Diabetic Foot Ulcer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Summary: This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed eight randomized controlled trials involving 672 patients, comparing extracorporeal shockwave therapies (ESWT) plus standard care versus standard care alone for diabetic foot ulcers. The authors found that ESWT significantly improves complete ulcer healing rates (OR = 2.747, p < 0.01) with low heterogeneity (I² = 0.02).
Key Highlights:
- Healing benefit: ESWT combined with standard care showed significantly higher rates of complete ulcer healing compared to standard care alone.
- Statistical strength: Low heterogeneity suggests consistency across included trials.
- Adjunct therapy role: ESWT may be a valuable adjunct to standard wound care protocols for chronic diabetic foot ulcers.
- Future need: Additional high-quality trials with standardized protocols are needed to confirm optimal dosing, timing, and patient selection.
Read the full article in Medical Sciences
Keywords:
Ruiz-Muñoz, M.,
Rueda-Zapata, L.,
Martinez-Barrios, F.-J.,
Nováková, T.,
Lopezosa-Reca, E.,
Gonzalez-Sanchez, M.,
Fernandez-Torres, R.,
Galan-Mercant, A.,
extracorporeal shockwave therapy,
diabetic foot ulcer,
meta-analysis