Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Physical Therapy - Department of Physical Therapy for Surgery

The purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of acidic environment using acetic acid iontophoresis on healing of chronic wounds. Sixty patients (males and females) were selected randomly and divided into three equal groups in number suffered from chronic wounds. Group (A): Suffered from chronic wounds and managed with acetic acid iontophoresis in addition to traditional medical intervention while patients in group (B) received acetic acid topically through dressings in addition to traditional medical intervention., group (c) received only traditional medical treatment. The patients in all groups were assessed before treatment (pre), after 3 weeks of treatment (post-1) and after 6 weeks of treatment application (post-2) for pH of wounds environment using pH meter, and were assessed for wound surface area using grid tracing method before treatment (pre), after 3 weeks (post-1) and 6 weeks (post-2) of treatment application. Results: The results of this study showed that the acidic wound environment had a significant difference in improving chronic wounds healing rate, this was clear through significant decrease in wound environment pH and decrease wound surface area in chronic wounds which were managed by acetic acid whether topically or through iontophoresis

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