LOW LEVEL LASER THERAPY IN AMBULATORY PATIENTS WITH VENOUS STASIS ULCERS

Abstract

The effectiveness of laser therapy in accelerating wound healing has been clinically well documented. We used two devices: one, a He-Ne laser with a wavelength of 632.8nm and power output of 8mW; the other, a Ga-Al-As laser with a wavelength of 830nm and power output of 120mW. The indication for treatment was stasis ulcers (Ulcer cruris) due to chronic venous insufficiency syndrome. Sixty-two patients were treated in this study. The challenge of obtaining good results when treating patients with long-standing vascular ulcers and wounds caused us to explore this technique. We achieved complete wound healing, classified as good, in 53 patients (85.48%) of the patients during a two to 14 week period of treatment, and moderate partial wound closure with clinical improvement in 4 patients (6.46%) with chronic long-term venous leg ulcers. The efficiency of the treatment was 91.94%. No patient had to stop treatment because of adverse side effects. Two patients (3.2%), had recurrent ulcers. These findings indicate that appropriate doses of laser can be beneficial in promoting tissue repair.