Galvanoplasty

Galvanoplasty is a historical surgical technique that employed direct electrical current (galvanism) to influence tissue healing and adhesion with the aim of repairing or reconstructing structures. In early descriptions, galvanoplasty referred to methods intended to fuse edges of tissues or to stimulate healing using a galvanic current, rather than relying solely on sutures. The underlying principle was that applying a constant direct-current to tissue could cause electrochemical reactions at the wound margins that promoted adhesion or healing.

History and development: The concept followed the discovery of galvanism in the late 18th century. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, surgeons experimented with galvanic devices as adjuncts or alternatives to suturing. The technique varied in method and equipment, and there was no standardized protocol.

Techniques: A direct-current source would be connected to electrodes placed on opposite sides of a wound or tissue margin. The intention was to produce tissue fusion, coagulation, or stimulation that would reduce bleeding and support closure. Some accounts describe a “galvanic suture” or “electrolytic adhesion,” but precise methods differed by practitioner.

Applications and scope: Used chiefly in reconstructive and plastic procedures, as well as some dental and ophthalmic contexts in historical literature. However, results were inconsistent, and safety concerns limited adoption.

Modern status: With the development of safe, effective suturing techniques, sterile adhesives, and advanced electrosurgical devices that use high-frequency alternating current, galvanoplasty declined and is largely obsolete in contemporary medical practice. The term may appear in historical discussions of electrotherapy and early plastic surgery.