Low-power HeNe laser treatment of venous leg ulcers. Effect of low power gallium arsenide laser on healing of venous ulcers.
Clinical observations have suggested that low-energy lasers, mainly helium-neon (HeNe) lasers, might stimulate wound healing. A controlled study of the effects of low-power HeNe laser was performed in conjunction with a standard treatment for healing chronic venous leg ulcers on 46 patients divided randomly into two groups. All patients received standard treatment (paste-impregnated bandage and a self-adhesive elastic bandage) plus either HeNe laser (wave-length, 632.8 nm; beam power, 6 mW; continuous emission, energy density, 4 J/cm2) or placebo HeNe laser twice weekly for 12 weeks. The areas of healing were examined and compared percentage-wise after 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 weeks. There were no significant differences in the proportion of healed ulcers or ulcer area in the HeNe group compared with the placebo group. The healing of venous ulcers of the leg with and without gallium arsenide laser treatment was studied in 42 patients randomly divided into two groups. One group received standard conservative treatment and gallium arsenide laser, and the other received the same standard treatment and placebo laser treatment. There were no differences in results between the two groups.
We have found no evidence of any benefit associated with low level laser therapy on venous leg ulcer healing. One small study suggests that a combination of laser and infrared light may promote the healing of venous ulcers, however more research is needed.