Cochrane · systematic review · CD001180
Therapeutic ultrasound for venous leg ulcers
Cullum, N, Liu, Z · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2017 · Cochrane Library
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
Current version onlyHigh frequency ultrasound compared with no ultrasound for people with venous leg ulcers
Population: people with venous leg ulcers
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / 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 participants | Very 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 participants | Low 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 participants | Moderate 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 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision |
Change in ulcer size at 4 or 7 weeks High frequency ultrasound vs no ultrasound | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 165 participants | Very 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 participants | Moderate Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision |
Serious adverse events High frequency ultrasound vs no ultrasound | RR 1.21 [0.78, 1.89] | 1 study · 337 participants | Moderate 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 extracted | 1 study · 285 participants | Moderate 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 extracted | 1 study · 229 participants | Moderate Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision |
Cost High frequency ultrasound vs no ultrasound | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 337 participants | Moderate Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision |
Low frequency ultrasound compared with no ultrasound for people with venous leg ulcers
Population: venous leg ulcers
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / 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 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Adverse events Low frequency ultrasound vs no ultrasound | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
HRQoL Low frequency ultrasound vs no ultrasound | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Cost Low frequency ultrasound vs no ultrasound | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
High frequency US compared to no ultrasound for venous leg ulcers
Population: patients with venous leg ulcers
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Proportion of ulcers completely healed at 12 weeks ‐ High‐frequency US (losses as failures) clinical judgement High frequency US vs no ultrasound | RR 1.47 [0.99, 2.2] | 2 studies · 152 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias |
Proportion ulcers completely healed at 7 or 8 weeks ‐ Losses as failures High frequency US vs no ultrasound | RR 1.4 [1, 1.96] | 5 studies · 341 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision |
HRQoL ‐ not reported High frequency US vs no ultrasound | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Pain ‐ not reported High frequency US vs no ultrasound | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Low frequency US compared to no ultrasound for venous leg ulcers
Population: patients with venous leg ulcers
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Proportion ulcers completely healed at 8 ‐ 12 weeks Low frequency US vs no ultrasound | RR 3.91 [0.47, 32.85] | 2 studies · 61 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias |
HRQoL ‐ not reported Low frequency US vs no ultrasound | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Pain ‐ not reported Low frequency US vs no ultrasound | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |