Pulsed electromagnetic fields accelerate normal and diabetic wound healing by increasing endogenous FGF-2 release.

Background: Chronic wounds, particularly in diabetics, result in significant morbidity and mortality and have a profound economic impact. The authors demonstrate that pulsed electromagnetic fields significantly improve both diabetic and normal wound healing in 66 mice through up-regulation of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 and are able to prevent tissue necrosis in diabetic tissue after an ischemic insult.

Methods: Db/db and C57BL6 mice were wounded and exposed to pulsed electromagnetic fields.