Thermographic study of low level laser therapy for acute-phase injury

Yoshimi Asagai, M.D., Atsuhiro Imakiire, M.D., Toshio Ohshiro, M.D.

Acute-phase injury is generally treated by localized cooling of the region, and rarely by the active use of low level laser therapy (LLLT) in Japan. Thermographic studies of acute-phase injury revealed that circulatory disturbances at the site of trauma occurred due to swelling and edema on the day following the injury, and that skin temperature was high at the site of the trauma and low at the periphery.

Following LLLT, circulatory disturbances rapidly improved, while temperature in the high temperature zone around the site of trauma fell by 3 degrees on the average, but at the periphery the low temperature rose by 3 degrees on the average to nearly normal skin temperature. Clinically, swelling and edema improved. LLLT was also useful in treating necrosis of the skin in the wound area and in accelerating healing of surgical wounds of paralytic feet, which are prone to delayed, wound healing and also wounds due to spoke injury. LLLT is useful in treating swelling and edema in acute-phase injury and in accelerating healing of surgical wounds.