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Pointing light at soft tissue: clinical applications 61

(a)

(b) Figure 7.2 A 4-year-old Yorkshire Terrier about to
undergo surgery for rectal prolapse. Even if we’re
going to remove this portion, it is preferable to operate
on better vascularized tissue. The images show the
prolapse (a) before LT, (b) immediately after LT, and
(c) after surgery. Two consecutive treatments were
performed, each using 2 J/cm and 0.15 W/cm , and
2
2
with 2 min time off between them. Another dose was
(c) delivered after surgery and 2 days later at the recheck.
Healing was satisfactory and uneventful.

incision bleeding and inflammation, do it before LT and of chronic pain in humans) and range of motion.
not after, since that would inhibit some of the effects of So a thinner scar, a more resistant tissue … it is all
LT. advantageous.
It is OK to use the laser with surgical staples and By the way, clipped hair regrows faster as well, which
osteosynthesis implants, as any absorption by them will be appreciated by some of your clients. LT has also
will lead to negligible heat in the tissue. Colored sub- been used to successfully treat canine non-inflamma-
stances like antiseptics should be washed out because tory alopecia. [206]
they could potentially cause a photosensitivity reaction
or an increase in local temperature, although a bit of a In fact, the reason we’ve had the honor of writing this
residual stain of dilute chlorhexidine is not a problem. book is due to this effect. The beneficial effects of
Surgical wounds treated with laser have the follow- laser were actually discovered via hair regrowth …
ing properties. accidentally. In 1967, Endre Mester was attempting
to determine if laser light was
• Less edema and erythema. LT also helps to deal carcinogenic to mice. The study results
with postoperative complications if they appear were negative (thank goodness), but
(Fig. 7.4). interestingly enough, the hair on the
• Less risk of complications, such as seroma forma- back of the mice in the laser group grew back quicker
tion or infection (see Case no. 12). than in the control group. And photobiomodulation
• They heal faster and better [106] : the tensile strength was born.
of the wound is increased.

Scar malleability can also be improved with laser [205] ; LT can also benefit flap and graft survival, and it has
this may significantly affect patient comfort (thick been studied in experimental models of skin grafts [207]
and poorly malleable scarring is a well-known source and axial pattern, [208] musculocutaneous, [209] and

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