Helium-neon laser in viability of random skin flap in rats

Abstract

Background and Objectives: the purpose of this study was to determine the role of helium-neon (He-Ne) laser random skin flap viability in rats.Study Design/Materials and Methods: Experimentally controlled randomized study. Forty-eight Wistar-EPM rats were used, weighed, and divided into 4 groups with 12 rats each. the random skin flap was performed measuring 10 x 4 cm, with a plastic sheet interposed between the flap and the donor site. the Group 1 (control) underwent sham irradiation with He-Ne laser. the Group 2 was submitted to laser irradiation, using the punctual contact technique on the skin flap surface. the Group 3 was submitted to laser irradiation surrounding the skin flap, and the Group 4 was submitted to laser irradiation both on the skin flap surface and around it. the experimental groups were submitted to He-Ne laser irradiation with 3 J/cm(2) energy density immediately after the surgery and for the four subsequent days. the percentage of necrotic area of the four groups was calculated at the 7th post-operative day, through a paper-template method.Results: Group 1 reached an average necrotic area of 48.86%; Group 2, 38.67%; Group 3, 35.34%; and Group 4, 22.61%. After the statistic analysis, results showed that all experimental groups reached statistically significant values when compared to the control group, and Group 4 was the best one, when compared to all groups of this study (P < 0.001).Conclusion: the He-Ne laser irradiation was efficient to increase random skin flap viability in rats.