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Wound care treatments for pressure injuries in people with spinal cord injury

Compares pulsed wound irrigation, electrical stimulation, or both for wound healing in spinal cord injury.

Key facts

Who runs it
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Where
Charlotte, United StatesSee the site
Trial code
Registry title
Physical Therapy Wound Care Modalities in Patients With Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
Status
Recruiting
People taking part
40 people, planned
Started
11 Oct 2022
Expected to end
Jan 2027
Type of study
Interventional, 3 groups
Treatments tested
  • pulsed wound irrigation (PWI)
  • electrical stimulation (ES)
  • electrical stimulation (ES) and pulsed wound irrigation (PWI)
Record updated
26 October 2026

Who can take part

AI summary

From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.

The trial is looking for adults with a spinal cord injury and a pressure sore on the lower back (sacrum) or sitting bone (ischium). They must be in inpatient rehabilitation at Carolinas Rehabilitation Charlotte.

Age
Over 18 years of age.
Sex
All sexes can join.
Disease stage
Spinal cord injury with a pressure injury to the sacrum or ischium. Wound score on the Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Tool (BWAT) above 31 at the first check.
Earlier treatment
A doctor must have ordered wound care checks and treatment by a physical therapist.

Main reasons for not taking part

  • Pain that makes wound care treatment too hard to bear
  • Not able to give informed consent
  • Pregnancy
  • BWAT wound score below 30 at the first check

The registry criteria, word for word

Show all 11 criteriaShow less

Who can take part

  • Currently enrolled at inpatient rehabilitation at Carolinas Rehabilitation Charlotte
  • Diagnosis of spinal cord injury and concomitant pressure injury to sacrum or ischium
  • Agreeable to wound care treatment by Physical Therapist (PT)
  • Able to perform informed consent
  • Over 18 years of age
  • Physician order for PT wound care evaluation and treatment
  • Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Tool (BWAT) >31 on initial evaluation

Who cannot take part

  • Pain which limits ability to tolerate wound care treatments
  • Unable to perform informed consent
  • Pregnancy
  • Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Tool (BWAT) <30 on initial evaluation

Where in United States

  • Carolinas RehabilitationCharlotte, United StatesContact: Erin Weeks, PT, DPT,WSTaking people

About the trial

What the trial wants to find out

To examine the effects of Physical Therapist (PT) wound care modalities (pulsed wound irrigation (PWI) + electrical stimulation (ES), PWI only, and ES only) on wound healing in patients with spinal cord injuries (SCI).

The 3 groups in the trial

  • pulsed wound irrigation (PWI)Treatment being tested

    The necrotic wound is irrigated with normal saline (0.9%) with an 8-12 pounds per square inch pressure (PSI) to provide a mechanical force to loosen necrotic tissue for wound healing

  • electrical stimulation (ES)Treatment being tested

    ES works to promote the migration of cells based on natural cell polarity known as galvanotaxis, enhancing and mimicking the natural current of injury. By recreating the natural electrical fields of the skin, ES attracts immune cells vital to healing to wound to facilitate wound closure

  • electrical stimulation (ES) and pulsed wound irrigation (PWI)Treatment being tested

    The necrotic wound is irrigated with normal saline (0.9%) with an 8-12 pounds per square inch pressure (PSI) to provide a mechanical force to loosen necrotic tissue for wound healing and ES to promote the migration of cells based on natural cell polarity known as galvanotaxis, enhancing and mimicking the natural current of injury. By recreating the natural electrical fields of the skin, ES attracts immune cells vital to healing to wound to facilitate wound closure

Questions to ask the study team

  1. How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
  2. Are travel costs paid?
  3. Can I keep my own doctor?
  4. What happens if I want to stop?

Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations

Print a page for my doctor

Data and sources

Registry record
Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Official title
A Prospective Analysis of Physical Therapy Wound Care Modalities in Patients With Spinal Cord Injury
Plain-language title
Wound care treatments for pressure injuries in people with spinal cord injuryGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 14 November 2026.
Record updated
26 October 2026