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Therapeutic low energy laser improves the mechanical strength of repairing medial collateral ligament
Author(s) -
Fung Dicky T.C.,
Ng Gabriel Y.F.,
Leung Mason C.P.,
Tay David K.C.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
lasers in surgery and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1096-9101
pISSN - 0196-8092
DOI - 10.1002/lsm.10083
Subject(s) - medicine , medial collateral ligament , laser , low level laser therapy , collateral damage , ultimate tensile strength , placebo , ligament , surgery , laser therapy , materials science , pathology , physics , criminology , alternative medicine , sociology , optics , metallurgy
Background and Objectives Low energy laser therapy has been shown to enhance collagen production but its effect on tissue strength is not well reported. We tested the effects of therapeutic laser on the strength of healing medial collateral ligaments (MCLs) in rats. Study Design/Materials and Methods Twenty‐four rats received surgical transection to their right MCL and eight received sham operation. After surgery, 16 received a single dose of gallium aluminum arsenide laser to their transected MCL for 7.5 minutes (n = 8) or 15 minutes (n = 8) and eight served as control with placebo laser, while the sham group didn't receive any treatment. The MCLs were biomechanically tested at either 3 or 6 weeks post‐operation. Results The normalized ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and stiffness of laser and sham groups were larger than control ( P < 0.001). The UTS of laser and sham groups were comparable. Laser and sham groups had improved in stiffness from 3 to 6 weeks ( P < 0.001). Conclusions A single dose of low energy laser therapy improves the UTS and stiffness of repairing MCL at 3 and 6 weeks after injury. Lasers Surg. Med. 31:91–96, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.