Low-Level Laser Therapy for Wound Healing: Mechanism and Efficacy

Abstract

To better understand the utility of LLLT in cutaneous wound healing, good clinical studies that correlate cellular effects and biologic processes are needed. Future studies should be well-controlled investigations with rational selection of lasers and treatment parameters. In the absence of such studies, the literature does not appear to support widespread use of LLLT in wound healing at this time. Although applications of high-energy (10-100 W) lasers are well established with significant supportive literature and widespread use, conflicting studies in the literature have limited low-level laser therapy (LLLT) use in the United States to investigational use only. Yet LLLT is used clinically in many other areas, including Canada, Europe, and Asia, for the treatment of various neurologic, chiropractic, dental, and dermatologic disorders. To understand this discrepancy, it is useful to review the studies on LLLT that have, to date, precluded Food and Drug Administration approval of many such technologies in the United States. The fundamental question is whether there is sufficient evidence to support the use of LLLT.

The use of low-level light therapy in supportive care for patients with breast cancer: review of the literature

“…Some of the animal studies investigating the effects of LLLT on wound healing have found similar results to the ones found in the in vitro studies, ranging from decreased inflammation and increased collagen and granulation tissue in the wound bed to increased tensile strength and faster epithelization [20][21][22][23].…”

“…LLLT can also induce collagen synthesis and growth factor secretion. Furthermore, there is also a downregulation of the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and cell apoptosis by LLLT [14][15][16][17][18][19][20].…”

Low-Level Laser Therapy is More Effective Than Pulse Ultrasound Treatment on Wound Healing: Comperative Experimental Study

“…20,21 Today, in many co un tri es ex cept Uni ted Sta tes, LLLT is wi dely used for the tre at ment of a va ri ety con diti ons inc lu ding ne u ro lo gic, den tal and der ma to logic di sor ders. 11 Du e to the exis ten ce of so me conf lic ting da ta for its ef fi cacy in wo und he a ling in ani mal 18,19,29 and hu man stu di es 20,21 the re is still no con sen sus for the ro u ti ne use of this the ra pe u tic mo da lity worl dwi de.…”

“…11 fi cult to com pa re the re sults of dif fe rent ex pe riments that used dif fe rent la ser pa ra me ters. Most LLLT re se arch stu di es, pro bably owing to cost or ava i la bi lity is su es, ha ve used he li um ne on (He Ne) la sers, but most of the ne wer stu di es are prof fe ring the ne wer Gal li um-Ar se ni de-Alu mi num (Ga-AsAl) la ser.…”

“…Alt ho ugh tem pe ra tu re do es not in cre a se no ti ce ably, LLLT may in du ce bi o lo gical con se qu en ces. 11 The sti mu la tory ef fects of lowle vel la ser ir ra di a ti on at the cel lu lar le vel ha ve be en shown in many stu di es. It was fo und to in cre a se the ac ti vity of cytoc hro me oxi da se and ade no si ne triphosp ha ta se, DNA synthe sis, col la gen and pro col lagen pro duc ti on, and cell pro li fe ra ti on.…”