Monochromatic phototherapy in elderly patients: a new way of treating chronic pressure ulcers?
OBJECTIVE
Monochromatic pulsating light may have effects of importance for wound healing, and promising results were obtained in an open study on the healing of pressure ulcers, which motivated the present study.


METHODS
One hundred and sixty-four in- and outpatients with grade II and III ulcers were treated with monochromatic pulsating light or placebo over the ulcerated area, according to a specific therapeutic program.


RESULTS
No significant effects were observed in the total material. In a subanalysis of grade II ulcers, there was a tendency toward better healing in the monochromatic light group (p = 0.06). A significantly larger reduction in pressure ulcer size was noted among patients in the treatment group with low body weight (BMI < 20).


CONCLUSIONS
Monochromatic pulsating light may have effects on pressure ulcer healing, and a new study focusing only on grade II ulcers is under way.
Department of Community Medicine, Lund University, Malmö University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden. ove.dehlin@smi.mas.lu.se
Ove
O
Dehlin
Sölve
S
Elmståhl
Finn
F
Gottrup
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D003116:Color; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000379:methods; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000528:radiation effects