Use of low-power He-Ne laser therapy to accelerate regeneration processes of injured sciatic nerve in rabbit

Ahmed Majeed Al-Shammari,Ahmed S. Al-Khafaji,Yahya Syhood

doi:10.1186/s41983-018-0047-6

Abstract

BackgroundPhotostimulation using low-power laser had been used for nervous repair with interesting results. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of 20 mW low-power He-Ne laser on the regeneration of a peripheral sciatic nerve after trauma using the Albino rabbit as an animal model for experimental treatment.MethodsSix adult male rabbits were randomly assigned into two equal groups (control- and laser-treated). General anesthesia was administered intramuscularly, and exploration of the sciatic nerve was done in the lateral aspect of the legs. Complete longitudinal and reverse sections of the nerve were performed, which was followed by crushing of the neural sheath. Treatment was carried out directly after the trauma. Irradiation doses of low-level laser therapy (LLLT-31.5 J/cm2) with once a day application for 10 consecutive days and observed for 30 days. The animals were followed up for an extra 2 weeks. Two important factors were examined histopathology and functionality of the nerve.ResultsCompared to the control group, significant variations in regeneration were observed, including thicker nerve fibers, and more regular myelin layers in the treated group.ConclusionsThe results of the present study suggest that laser therapy may be a viable approach for nerve regeneration and repair.

Highlights

Peripheral nerves traumatic injuries that may result in substantial disability are a universal problem
In countries that suffered from years of wars and conflicts such as Iraq [3] could have more peripheral nerve injuries resulted from explosions, bullet injuries, and many other reasons that need attention and treatment [19]
Nerve injuries that include complete transection of the nerve results in degeneration occurs both distal to the lesion segment by Wallerian degeneration and proximal to the lesion segment by retrograde degeneration [17], which lead to motor and sensory functional damage at the spot of the lesion

Summary

Introduction

Peripheral nerves traumatic injuries that may result in substantial disability are a universal problem. Nerve injuries that include complete transection of the nerve results in degeneration occurs both distal to the lesion segment by Wallerian degeneration and proximal to the lesion segment by retrograde degeneration [17], which lead to motor and sensory functional damage at the spot of the lesion. While some regeneration can be seen in Investigation of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in the clinical applications has been done in different fields, and it was used to relieve pain and promote the recovery of several pathological conditions [8, 14]. Photostimulation using low-power laser had been used for nervous repair with interesting results. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of 20 mW low-power He-Ne laser on the regeneration of a peripheral sciatic nerve after trauma using the Albino rabbit as an animal model for experimental treatment

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion