Histological and Clinical Responses of Articular Cartilage to Low
level Laser Therapy: Experimental Study
I. RUIZ CALATRAVA, J.M.SANTISTEBAN VALENZUELA, R.J.G0MEZ-VILLAMANDOS
J.I.REDONDO, J.C.G0MEZ-VILLAMANDOS, l.AVIGA JURADO
Department of Veterinary Clinical Pathology-Surgery, Faculty of
Veterinary Medicine, University of Cordoba, Spain. Correspondence to 1. Ruiz
Calatrava, Department of Veterinary Clinical Pathology-Surgery, Faculty of
Veterinary Medicine, University of Cordoba, Avda. Medina Azahara, 9, 14005
Cordoba, Spain
Abstract. This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of low-level
laser irradiation on experimental lesions of articular cartilage. A standard
lesion was practiced on the femoral trochlea of both hind limbs of 20 clinically
normal Californian rabbits. These animals were divided into two groups of 10
individuals each, depending on the laser equipment used for treatment. One group
was treated with HeNe laser (8 J cm - 2, 632.8 nm wavelength) and the other with
infra-red (JR) laser (8 J cm - 2, 904 nm wavelength). In both groups, five
points of irradiation to the right limb alone were irradiated per session for a
total of 13 sessions, applied with an interval of 24 h between sessions. These
points were the following: left and right femoral epicondyles, left and right
tibial condyles and the center of articulation. The distance between these
points was approximately 1 cm. The untreated left limb was left as a control.
During treatment, extension angle and periarticular thickness were considered.
At the end of the treatment, samples were collected for histopathological study
and stained with: Haematoxylin-Eosin, PAS and Done. The results show a
statistically higher anti-inflammatory capacity of the IR laser ( p<0.0001).
The functional recovery was statistically similar for both treatments
(p<0.176). Histological study showed, at the end of the treatment, hyaline
cartilage in the IR group, fibrocartilage in the HeNe group and granulation
tissue in the control limbs. Clinical and histological results indicated that
this laser treatment had a clear anti-inflammatory effect that provided a fast
recuperation and regeneration of the articular cartilage.
- Lasers in Medical Science 1997, 12:117-121
- 0268 - 892 1/97/020117 +05 $1 2.00/0
- © 1997 W.B. Saunders Company Ltd
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