Cutaneous Microcirculation After Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy

In plastic and reconstructive surgery, treatment strategies of second-degree burns, superficial wounds, hypertrophic burn scars, flaps and chronic wounds aim at reducing infection and improving microcirculation. Although previous studies indicate that extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) can accelerate wound healing, only a few studies focused on the elucidation of its mechanisms of action. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the microcirculatory effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy on second-degree burns, superficial wounds, hypertrophic burn scars, flaps and chronic wounds in a human in-vivo setting for the first time.