Low level laser therapy for wound healing: an update
Simon A
Record ID 32004000822
English
Authors' objectives:
This review aims to assess the effectiveness of low level laser therapy (LLLT) in the treatment of chronic wounds, specifically leg ulcers and pressure sores.
Authors' recommendations:
- Low level laser therapy (LLLT) has been used in the treatment of wounds. Issues related to use of the technology in this application are definition of standard protocols and evidence of effectiveness.
- Low level lasers most commonly used for wound treatment are the gallium arsenide (GaAs), gallium aluminum arsenide infrared semiconductor (GaAlAs) and the helium neon (HeNe) devices.
- Differences exist in the delivery of LLLT. Variables include laser type and wavelength, the use of a single wavelength or a combination of wavelengths, irradiance or dosage, beam divergence, spot size, frequency and duration of treatment, applicator placement (contact or non-contact), and, for pulsed devices, pulse duration and duty cycle.
- To date, neither Health Canada nor the US Food and Drug Administration have approved low energy lasers for use in wound healing.
- Systematic reviews of the literature indicate that the efficacy of LLLT in this application is not established although it poses little or no safety risk to patients. There is no good scientific evidence to support its use and mounting evidence to indicate it does not benefit wound healing.
- Any local use of LLLT in this application should be limited to research, in patients resistant to conventional therapy.
- Other, possibly more promising alternative therapies, such as electrical stimulation and ultrasound, should be considered as adjunct therapies to conventional wound healing practices.
Authors' methods:
Systematic review
Details
Project Status:
Completed
Year Published:
2004
URL for published report:
https://www.ihe.ca/advanced-search?type=1020
English language abstract:
An English language summary is available
Publication Type:
Not Assigned
Country:
Canada
MeSH Terms
- Low-Level Light Therapy
- Wound Healing
- Wounds and Injuries
Contact
Organisation Name:
Institute of Health Economics
Contact Address:
1200, 10405 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T5J 3N4. Tel: +1 780 448 4881; Fax: +1 780 448 0018;
Contact Name:
djuzwishin@ihe.ca
Contact Email:
djuzwishin@ihe.ca
Copyright:
<p>Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR)</p>
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.