Effects of laser irradiation on the spinal cord for the regeneration of crushed peripheral nerve in rats.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present study was to examine the recovery of the crushed sciatic nerve of rats after low-power laser irradiation applied to the corresponding segments of the spinal cord.


METHODS
After a crush injury to the sciatic nerve in rats, low-power laser irradiation was applied transcutaneously to corresponding segments of the spinal cord immediately after closing the wound by using 16 mW, 632 nm He-Ne laser. The laser treatment was repeated 30 minutes daily for 21 consecutive days.


RESULTS
The electrophysiologic activity of the injured nerves (compound muscle action potentials--CMAPs) was found to be approximately 90% of the normal precrush value and remained so for up to a long period of time. In the control nonirradiated group, electrophysiologic activity dropped to 20% of the normal precrush value at day 21 and showed the first signs of slow recovery 30 days after surgery. The two groups were found to be significantly different during follow-up period (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that low-power laser irradiation applied directly to the spinal cord can improve recovery of the corresponding insured peripheral nerve.
Rochkind
S
S
Department of Neurosurgery, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
Nissan
M
M
Alon
M
M
Shamir
M
M
Salame
K
K
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D053685:Laser Therapy; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012016:Reference Values; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000293:injuries* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000528:radiation effects*