Effect of Biostimulation on Healing of Bone Defects in Diabetic Rats

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of biostimulation on healing of bone defects in diabetic rats. Twenty-eight Wistar rats weighting 250 to 300 g were used for this study. Diabetes was chemically induced with streptozotocin, and 14 nondiabetic and 14 diabetic rats were included in the study. The distal epiphysis of the right and left femurs of the diabetic rats were perforated with a surgical bone drill. This surgical procedure was performed on the left femurs of normal rats too. The wound on the right side of each diabetic rat received laser stimulation. The left femur of each nondiabetic (normal) rat served as a control. The rats were assigned to three experimental groups: (1) normal bur (control group); (2) diabetic bur; (3) diabetic bur + biostimulation. There was a significant difference among all groups in substantia spongiosa formation on day 10. According to the Mann-Whitney U test, there was a difference between Groups 1 and 2. A significant difference was noted between Groups 2 and 3 as well as between Groups 1 and 3 and between Groups 2 and 3 in union at 20 d of healing. Substantia spongiosa formation was slightly more evident in Groups 1 and 3 than in Group 2. Also, there was more union in Group 3 than in the other groups on day 20. As a result, it can be concluded that low-level laser therapy (808 nm laser at 10 J/cm(2)) can have a beneficial effect on spongiosa in diabetic bone repair when five treatments are administered with 2 d intervals between treatments.