Author(s): Gerhard Maale, MD, Janice Walker, OTR; Dallas, TX
Title: The Effects of Treatment of an Interactive Handheld Cutaneous Neuro-Stimulator (INS) in Recurrent Sinusitis
Purpose: Recurrent sinusitis is thought to be a biofilm mediated event. The clinical course is usually signs of sepsis associated with headaches. Currently recurrent oral antibiotic treatment and decongestants are used. The effects of an INS device in the treatment of people with this condition is described.
Methods: The INS device, a non evasive hand held device that produces an electrical current with normal skin as conduit, by two concentric electrodes, with a damped biphasic waveform, with a frequency of 59.3 cycles per second, a pulse delivery between 15 and 350 pulses per second, and variability of power intensity was used. Power, frequency, pulse duration, pulse grouping, and waveform damping were varied with the patients treated. Treatment zones included frontal, maxillary and infra-orbital as well as other homeostatic points, for a period of 15-30 minutes. The patients selected had acute exacerbations of recurrent sinusitis.
Results: Ten patients were treated. The patients got immediate relief of headaches associated most commonly with a hissing sensation from decompression of the sinuses, occurring during treatment. The patients also had a purulent discharge shortly after the decompression of the sinus.
Discussion: Chronic sinusitis has been used as a study model for biofilm growth on keratinized epithelial membranes. Chronic recurrent sinusitis in humans is extremely disabling and not well treated with antibiotics. This pilot study demonstrates efficacy in the treatment of this disorder. The effects are thought secondary to prostaglandin mediated anti-inflammatory effects and possible the disruption of biofilms. Further studies are indicated.
