Cochrane · systematic review · CD001180

Therapeutic ultrasound for venous leg ulcers

Cullum, N, Liu, Z · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2017 · Cochrane Library

Wounds2 versionsAMSTAR 2: not assessed
SoF tableOnly the outcomes this review put in its Summary of Findings table are listed (the Cochrane Handbook caps them at about seven per comparison). Its other analyses are not shown here.
Questions
14
current version
GRADE rated
11
No studies
3
Included studies
NR
No studies 3 · 21.4%Ungraded 0 · 0%Very low 3 · 21.4%Low 2 · 14.3%Moderate 6 · 42.9%High 0 · 0%

Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.

Questions and results

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High frequency ultrasound compared with no ultrasound for people with venous leg ulcers

Population: people with venous leg ulcers
10 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Proportion of ulcers completely healed at 3 weeks
High frequency ultrasound vs no ultrasound
RR 2.05 [0.24, 17.23]1 study · 65 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias
Proportion of ulcers completely healed at 7 or 8 weeks: losses to
High frequency ultrasound vs no ultrasound
RR 1.21 [0.86, 1.71]6 studies · 678 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision
Proportion of ulcers completely healed at 12 weeks: losses to
High frequency ultrasound vs no ultrasound
RR 1.26 [0.92, 1.73]3 studies · 489 participantsModerate
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision
Healing at 12 months (nurse‐reported data)
High frequency ultrasound vs no ultrasound
RR 0.93 [0.73, 1.18]1 study · 337 participantsLow
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision
Change in ulcer size at 4 or 7 weeks
High frequency ultrasound vs no ultrasound
no estimate extracted2 studies · 165 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision
Non‐serious adverse events
High frequency ultrasound vs no ultrasound
RR 1.29 [1.02, 1.64]1 study · 337 participantsModerate
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision
Serious adverse events
High frequency ultrasound vs no ultrasound
RR 1.21 [0.78, 1.89]1 study · 337 participantsModerate
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision
HRQoL: 12‐week SF‐12 mean Physical/Mental Component Scores scale from 0 to 100
High frequency ultrasound vs no ultrasound
no estimate extracted1 study · 285 participantsModerate
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision
HRQoL: 12‐month SF‐12 Physical Component Score Scale from: 0 to 100
High frequency ultrasound vs no ultrasound
no estimate extracted1 study · 229 participantsModerate
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision
Cost
High frequency ultrasound vs no ultrasound
no estimate extracted1 study · 337 participantsModerate
Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision

Low frequency ultrasound compared with no ultrasound for people with venous leg ulcers

Population: venous leg ulcers
4 questions
OutcomeEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Proportion of ulcers completely healed at 8 to 12 weeks
Low frequency ultrasound vs no ultrasound
RR 3.91 [0.47, 32.85]2 studies · 61 participantsVery low
Downgraded: risk of bias
Adverse events
Low frequency ultrasound vs no ultrasound
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
HRQoL
Low frequency ultrasound vs no ultrasound
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Cost
Low frequency ultrasound vs no ultrasound
no estimate extractedNRNo studies