Low Level Laser Therapy in the Treatment of Pressure Ulcers in Spinal Cord Handicapped Veterans Living in Tehran

Pressure ulcers result from imm obil ity and continuous pressure on an area of body. Besides imposing furth er restriction of movements and thus creating a vi cious circle in the healing process, these ulcers are of signifi cant importance in decreasing the life quality and increa sing the costs of treatment in these patients. In thi s study we compared the outcome of treatment of pressure ulcers with GA-AL- A S (Gallium- Aluminium -Arsenide) Gal-AL-In-Ph (Gallium- A luminiumIndium - Phosphate) - diode lasers, on contact, continuous emission mode at an every oth er day dose of 4-6 J/cm2 for 3 weeks plus conventional treatments of pressure ulcers, with that of convention al treatment alone in two groups of veterans with spinal cord paralysi s who reside in Tehran. T he study was a triple blind clinical trial conducted among 16 veterans who were randomly divided into case and control groups. The diameter of the ulcer s was measured and staged by one person who was unaware of the subj ects allocation. Digital photographs of the ulcers were initially taken and a combination of conventional treatment (wet dressing, irrigation) with Low Level Laser and conventional treatment alone was perform ed for the case and control groups respectively. After 3 weeks the subj ects were evaluated again and photographed with the same method. The results demonstrated a statisticall y signifi cant enhancement of the healing process by combination of Low Level Laser with conventional treatments of pressure ulcers.