From the Guidelines
Ultramist should not be used as a treatment for wounds, as the current evidence does not support its effectiveness over standard care. The most recent and highest quality study, 1, provides guidelines on interventions to enhance healing of foot ulcers in people with diabetes, and it does not recommend the use of ultrasonic debridement, which is the principle behind Ultramist, over standard care. According to the study, sharp debridement and basic wound dressings are the recommended standard of care, and any other interventions should be considered adjunctive to this standard care. Some key points from the study include:
- Do not use autolytic, biosurgical, hydrosurgical, chemical, or laser debridement over standard of care (GRADE Strength of recommendation: Strong; Certainty of evidence: Low)
- Do not use any form of ultrasonic debridement over standard care (i.e. sharp debridement) (Strong; Low). The previous study, 1, also supports this recommendation, stating that agents reported to have an impact on wound healing through alteration of the physical environment, including through the use of electricity, magnetism, ultrasound and shockwaves, should not be selected in preference to accepted standards of good quality care (strong; low). Therefore, based on the strongest and most recent evidence, Ultramist is not recommended as a treatment for wounds.
From the Research
Ultramist Wound Treatment
- Ultramist therapy uses acoustic energy to remove devitalized tissue from the wound bed and promote wound healing 2.
- The therapy has been used on wounds associated with neuropathy, limb ischemia, venous insufficiency, trauma, and poorly healing surgical wounds 2.
- Limited evidence suggests that noncontact, low-hertz frequency ultrasonic mist therapy promotes wound healing when used in conjunction with standard wound therapy 2.
Mechanism of Action
- Ultrasonic mist debridement removes necrotic debris from the wound bed, promoting a clean environment for healing 2.
- The use of ultrasonic mist therapy can help create a moist environment, which is beneficial for wound healing 3, 4.
- Hydrogel dressings, which can be used in conjunction with ultramist therapy, provide a hospitable and moist environment for cells to thrive, while allowing the wound to breathe and exudate to be drained 4, 5, 6.
Benefits and Considerations
- Ultramist therapy has been shown to have few adverse effects, with pain being successfully addressed with topical analgesia 2.
- The use of hydrogel dressings, which can be used with ultramist therapy, can provide mechanical support and a moist environment for wounds, promoting accelerated healing 5, 6.
- Further research is needed to determine the effectiveness of ultramist therapy in debriding necrotic tissue in chronic wound beds 2.