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

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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 ectsי 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.

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