Effect of shock waves on the healing of partial-thickness wounds in piglets.

During the last 20 years, the role of various physical factors in wound healing has been widely studied and recognized. With the use of shock waves for the treatment of urolithiasis, a new mechanical medium has been introduced into medicine. The influence of shock waves on the reepithelialization of partial-thickness wounds was studied in four Yorkshire piglets by a quantitative morphometric method. Wounds were inflicted either in intact skin (three pigs) or in skin irradiated with 1500 rads to achieve delayed healing. A significant enhancement in normal or delayed healing was found with low-dose treatment (10 SW at 14 kV). High-dose application of shock waves (100 SW at 18 kV) resulted in inhibition of the rate of reepithelialization of the wounds. Shock waves of intermediate energies were without effect. The stimulating effect of low-energy shock waves coincides with significantly increased vascularization of the upper dermis and thicker layer of the newly formed epithelial cells covering the wound.