Use of low-power laser to assist the healing of traumatic wounds in rats

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To investigate the morphological aspects of the healing of traumatic wounds in rats using low-power laser. METHODS: Twenty four non isogenic, young adult male Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) weighing between 200 and 300g was used. The animals were randomly distributed into two groups Control (GC) and Laser (GL), with 12 animals each. After shaving, anesthesia was performed in the dorsal region and then a surgical procedure using a scapel was carried out to make the traumatic wound. GL received five sessions of laser therapy in consecutive days using the following laser parameters wavelength 660 nm, power 100 mW, dose 10 J/cm2. The wounds were evaluated through measurement of the area and depth of the wound (MW) and histological analysis (HA). RESULTS: When comparing the GC with the GL in MW there was a difference in area (p<0.001) and depth (p=0.003) measurement of the wounds in GL. The laser group presented more epithelization than GC (p=0.03). The other histological parameters were similar. CONCLUSION: The healing of wounds in rats was improved with the use of the laser. .