Laser and Sports Medicine in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Junichiro Kubota M.D. Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

Flap survival with diode laser therapy: Skin flap or graft surgery are major procedures in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Skin flap necrosis has been a problem for us. The author reported on the enhanced blood flow following the low reactive laser therapy in skin flaps. The 830 nm diode laser (20 - 60 mw) irradiated flaps showed a greater perfusion, a greater number of blood vessels, and a higher rate of survival areas than the control flaps in the rat models and clinical cases. Improve of wound healing with diode laser therapy: The diode laser therapy was indicated for traumatic skin ulcers received from sport activities and traffic accidents which had proved resistant to conservative treatment. The diode laser system has a wavelength of 830 nm. And output power of 150or 1000mw in continuous wave. The diode laser was applied with the non-contact method to the area on the wound for one minute once a day every day during the treatment period. The diode laser was used successfully for the rapid enhanced healing of traumatic skin ulcers in clinical cases. Pain attenuation of the temporomandibular joint with diode laser therapy:

Laser therapy has been applied for temporomandibular joint pain which follows as a result of mal-occlusion, mandibular contusions or mandibular fracture. The diode laser was applied with contact method to the area of around a temporomandibular joint, especially, tender points with pressure for 1 minute to 5 minutes (5 sec. To 15 sec./one point). The pain decreased after one or two treatments. The patients had goods results. Treatment of traumatic tattoos with Q-switched Nd:YAG laser: For many years, the treatment of traumatic tattoos during outdoor sports or traffic accidents has presented a major set of problems to plastic surgeons. I would like to introduce treatment of the traumatic tattoos with Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (wavelengths 1064 nm. Energy density 4 to 6 J/cm). All patients were successfully treated with no scarring and no hyperpigmentation.

Discussion: The majority of patients hope to avoid undergoing a surgical operation, trying instead with conservative treatments for injuries. The diode laser therapy improved the flap circulation and wound healing of severe skin ulcers. And this therapy has been applied for temporomandibular joint pain and we have obtained favorable results. The diode laser therapy has proved to be particularly effective for pain attenuation. The diode laser therapy may well offer an additional convenient, safe and side-effect free method. On the other hand, the Q-switched Nd:YAG laser system applied to the traumatic tattoos, achieving consistently good results concomitant with easy and safe operation, successfully achieving excellent lightening of the target lesions.