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

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 10×4 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. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.