Effects of therapeutic ultrasound and paraffin with or without vacuum massage on biomechanical properties of grafted skin after burn: a randomized controlled trial

Author(s)

Adriana da Costa Gonçalves ^[1] ; Rinaldo Roberto de Jesus Guirro ^[2] ; Lidia Aparecida Rossi ^[3] ; Jayme Adriano Farina Junior ^[4] ; Camila Silva de Carvalho ^[5] ; Ana Paula Ferro ^[6] ; Elaine Caldeira de Oliveira Guirro ^[7]

Affiliation

^[1] Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto. Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation and Functional Performance. Department of Health Sciences - Brasil

^[2] Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto. Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation and Functional Performance. Department of Health Sciences - Brasil

^[3] Universidade de São Paulo. School of Nursing, Department General and Specialized Nursing - Brasil

^[4] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Department of Surgery - Brasil

^[5] Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto. Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation and Functional Performance. Department of Health Sciences - Brasil

^[6] Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto. Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation and Functional Performance. Department of Health Sciences - Brasil

^[7] Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto. Postgraduate Program in Rehabilitation and Functional Performance. Department of Health Sciences - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Revista da Associação Médica Brasileira; 2022-12-02.

Abstract

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the effects of therapeutic ultrasound and paraffin with or without vacuum massage on the biomechanical properties of grafted skin after a burn. METHODS: A total of 44 patients with deep second- and third-degree burns, with a mean age of 35.89 (±11.53) years, who visited the Hospital Burn Unity, were included in the study. The therapeutic interventions were randomly defined by drawing lots, with a crossover design (crossover), and a minimum interval of 7 days (washout) between interventions. Skin biomechanical parameters such as distensibility (R0) and viscoelasticity (R6) were noninvasively evaluated by Cutometer before and after 0, 10, 20, and 30 min of intervention with therapeutic ultrasound and paraffin alone, as well as associated with negative pressure therapy of the skin (vacuum therapy). In this study, all groups showed increased distensibility (R0) in the period immediately after the application of the resources and a progressive reduction in the effects in the consecutive tests. Participants with skin grafts showed a decrease in viscoelasticity (R6) in all groups, except therapeutic paraffin and therapeutic ultrasound and vacuum massage. CONCLUSION: The biomechanical properties of grafted skin after a burn are altered after therapeutic intervention with ultrasound alone or associated with vacuum massage, such as intervention with paraffin associated with vacuum massage, for both parameters evaluated, skin distensibility (R0) and skin viscoelasticity (R6). However, the same did not occur for the intervention with isolated paraffin. There was no significant difference between the interventions therapeutic ultrasound and therapeutic paraffin. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/10006-8 - The rehabilitation process and its interfaces with individual quality of life and culture - phase II
• Grantee: Lidia Aparecida Rossi
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 16/04800-0 - Polarity of action on transcutaneous electrical stimulation for the treatment of donor sites for autogenous grafts in burn patients: blind randomized clinical trial
• Grantee: Camila Silva de Carvalho
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master