Influence of high voltage pulsed direct current on edema formation following impact injury

Edema results in pain and may lead to reduced functional mobility. High voltage pulsed direct current (HVPC) has recently been advocated for edema control. The purpose of our study was to determine the effect of HVPC on edema formation in frogs. Hind limbs of 20 anesthetized frogs were injured by dropping a 450-g weight onto the plantar aspects of the feet. One hind limb of each frog was randomly selected to receive continuous 120-Hz HVPC at voltages 10% lower than those needed to evoke muscle contraction. Four 30-minute treatments were administered at 1.5-hour intervals beginning 10 minutes after trauma. Limb volumes were measured by water displacement. An analysis of variance for repeated measures and a Newman-Keuls post hoc test were used to determine the significance of treatment effects. The HVPC significantly (p<.01) reduced edema formation. We hypothesize tht HVPC may also be effective in controlling edema formation after impact injuries in humans.