The effect of pulsed electromagnetic energy (Diapulse) on the survival of experimental skin flaps. A study on rats.

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 less than 0.10) in a set up, that on a significance level of 5%, would have detected an enhancement of flap survival of greater than or equal to 10% in 98% of trials.