Shockwave Wound Therapy

At Accelerated Cast Clinic & Limb Preservation Centre, we are always striving to bring healing for our wound care clients as rapidly as possible. We are acutely aware of the devastating effects that an unhealed wound has on a person’s family, employment, finances, quality of life and overall health. As such, we pride ourselves on being on the cutting edge of treatment and new technologies in the area of wound care and limb preservation.

We are excited to have been chosen by Sanuwave to be the first and only health clinic in Western Canada to use the dermaPace Shockwave Wound Therapy device.

Currently, this innovative, adjunctive treatment is incorporated along side best practice wound care for all our wound clients, at no extra charge.

Here’s how Shockwave works:

The mechanism of action is based on shockwave technology which has been used for nearly 30 years in orthopedic treatments and lithotripsy procedures (destruction of kidney stones). These early devices also provided evidence that there was an effect on wound healing.

Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive, painless modality to reinvigorate the chronic wound by activating the body’s own healing mechanism. Treatments only take about 5 minutes.

Shockwave energy:

• increases angiogenesis (the development of new blood vessels)
• increases growth factor production (required for the stimulation of growth in living cells) and
• decreases inflammation within the wound bed and surrounding tissues.
• Increased fibroblast (bone building cells)
• Increased leukocyte production (cells that circulates in the blood and body fluids-involved in counteracting foreign substances and disease)
• Improves the susceptibility of biofilm organisms to antimicrobial agents which may prevent infections

Clinical evidence suggests that, in addition to best practice wound care, off-loading and debridement, shockwave wound therapy provides benefits such as decreased time to wound to closure and decreased instances of the wound reoccurring.

Shockwave therapy has been found to have some benefit for the following types of wounds:

• Post-operative wound healing defects
• Post-traumatic wounds
• Deep-partial thickness burns
• Decubitus ulcers
• Diabetic ulcers
• Arterial ulcers
• Venous Leg ulcers

We are encouraged and excited at the early results we are seeing with this shockwave device and look forward to analyzing the data over the months and years to come.

What to Expect During treatment with the dermaPACE Wound Therapy System

The treatment takes place in our facility at a scheduled time. On the treatment day you should be in overall good health. Before treatment you will be informed of the procedure and asked to sign an informed consent form.

​The procedure will begin with the removal of dressings or bandages from the wound. The edges of the wound may be measured to determine the size of the wound. The wound will be gently cleansed, and sterile gel will be applied to the wound. The dermaPACE Applicator will be gently applied to the wound surface, and treatment will begin. The device makes an audible “popping” sound that will last until the treatment ends. In general only a few treatments lasting a few minutes are needed; however, the treatment time – as well as the number of treatments – depend on the wound condition.

After treatment, you will receive advanced wound care including a dressing and other instructions within your personalized wound care program.

What are the possible side effects or complications?

A procedure with the dermaPACE   System has minimal risks. In some cases it can cause reddening, bruising, tingling or numbness. Directly after treatment there may be a brief increase of pain.

Is shockwave wound therapy safe?

Yes. Shockwave treatment was originally developed for the treatment of kidney stones over 30 years ago. A wealth of medical experience, state-of-the-art engineering and optimal quality have been built into the dermaPACE System, and extensive clinical studies and tests have confirmed its safety and efficacy.​

What if I have a Special Health Condition?

The safety and effectiveness of dermaPACE  procedures has not yet been determined in people with the following health conditions. Your doctor will provide you with information about how these and other health conditions might affect the outcome of a dermaPACE  procedure.

• Malignancies in the treatment area
• Treatments in the head area
• Treatments on the spinal column
• Treatments in the lung area
• Treatments in the area of the gonads
• Coagulation disorders

Little or no experience has been gathered in cases of:

• Children
• Pregnant patients
• Patients with pacemakers
• Patients with implants in the treatment area

Do you have a wound that has not improved at least 30% over the last 30 days or longer?

Give us a call to book a Lower Limb Assessment and get started on your healing journey today.

To learn more about this advanced therapy and others we offer check out our Advanced Therapies page.

Kathleen Cesarin, CEO

Accelerated Cast Clinic & Limb Preservation Centre

Would you like to learn more about how shockwave therapy can be used as an adjunctive therapy? Check out our course at the Accelerated Learning Centre!