Evaluation of Low Level Laser Therapy Using 790-805 Nm Diode Laser in the Enhancement of Diabetic Foot Ulcer Healing

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Background: Conventional treatment of diabetic wounds involves many forms of therapies including contact dressings with topical treatments, and surgical debridement of necrotic tissue. The different treatments that have been used do not often give satisfactory results. Low-level laser therapy also known as biostimulation is a form of phototherapy that involves the application of low-power monochromatic and coherent light to injuries and lesions in order to stimulate wound healing.

Objectives: To prove the effect of low level laser therapy (biostimulation) using gallium– aluminum–arsenate (Ga Al As), diode laser with wavelength of (790-805) nm in promotion and enhancement of wound healing of diabetic foot ulcer.

Methods: Thirty-four patients with diabetic foot wounds were selected and divided into two  groups, 1st group treated conventionally, in the 2nd group the wounds were exposed to laser therapy (28 sessions, each session with power  density 0.8 W/cm2 every day for 14 days and another 14 sessions every other day) the speed of application is 1-2 mm/sec

Results: Those patients who exposed to laser therapy (2nd group) showed significant reduction in the diameter, mean diameter reduction from 3.5 cm to 1.2 cm and depth of the ulcer, from 4.8 mm to 2.2 mm, which was significantly less than 1st group, mean diameter reduction from 3.48 cm to 3.3 cm and the depth of the ulcer, from 4.3 mm to 2.3 mm. The mean duration of healing of the 2nd group was 1.2 month which was significantly shorter than the 1st group which was 2.5 months.

Conclusions: Low-level laser therapy can be used to enhance healing in diabetic wounds, if proper wavelength, energy density and exposure time were selected.