Low-level laser therapy using the minimally invasive laser needle system on osteoporotic bone in ovariectomized mice

This study tested the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in preventing and/or treating osteoporotic trabecular bone. Mice were ovariectomized (OVX) to induce osteoporotic bone loss. The tibiae of eight OVX mice were treated for 5 days each week for 2 weeks by LLLT (660 nm, 3 J) using a minimally invasive laser needle system (MILNS) which is designed to minimize loss of laser energy before reaching bone (LASER group). Another eight mice received a sham treatment (SHAM group). Structural parameters of trabecular bone were measured with in vivo micro-computed tomography images before and after laser treatment. After LLLT for 2 weeks, the percentage reduction (%R) was significantly lower in BV/TV (bone volume fraction) and Tb.N (trabecular number, p < 0.05 and p < 0.05) and significant higher in Tb.Sp (trabecular separation) and SMI (structure model index, p < 0.05 and p < 0.05) than in the SHAM group. The %R in BV/TV at sites directly treated by LLLT was significantly lower in the LASER group than the SHAM group (p < 0.05, p < 0.05). These results indicated that LLLT using MILNS may be effective for preventing and/or treating trabecular bone loss and the effect may be site-dependent in the same bone.