The influence of comorbidities and etiologies on the success of extracorporeal shock wave therapy for chronic soft tissue wounds: midterm results.

Possible effects of comorbidities and of different wound etiologies on the success of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) of chronic soft tissue wounds were investigated. From September 2003 until February 2007, 282 patients, being previously treated unsuccessfully were enrolled. Treatment consisted of ESWT occurring at defined intervals. At each treatment session a wound bed score was recorded, also at initial presentation a detailed patient history and wound etiology. Observed comorbidities were pooled according to the chapters of the ICD-10 system. Two hunderd fifty-eight patients were analyzed (91.49%) and underwent follow-up for a median of 31.8 months. Wound closure occurred in 191 patients (74.03%) by a median of two treatment sessions. No wound reappeared at the same location. A multivariate logistic regression model showed that pooled comorbidities and wound etiologies did not have a significant influence on success. Comorbidities and wound etiologies have surprisingly no significant influence on the success of ESWT.