title: The effects of polarized light therapy in pressure ulcer healing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Neglecting polarized light as an adjuvant therapy for pressure ulcers and methodology distinctions in the trials engaging polarized light are the reasons for many dilemmas and contradictions. The aim of this study was to establish the effects of polarized light therapy in pressure ulcer healing.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective randomized single-blind study involved 40 patients with stage I-III of pressure ulcer. The patients in the experimental group (E) were subjected, besides polarized light therapy, to standard wound cleaning and dressing. Standard wound cleaning and dressing were the only treatment used in the control group (C). A polarized light source was a Bioptron lamp. Polarized light therapy was applied for six min daily, five times a week, four weeks. The Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing (PUSH) was used in the assessment of outcome. Statistic analysis included Mann Whitney Test, Fisher Exact Test, Wilcoxon Signed Rank test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant differences between the groups at the end of the treatment regarding the surface of pressure ulcer (E: 10.80 +/- 19.18; C: 22,97 +/- 25,47; p = 0.0005), rank of pressure ulcer (E: 5.90 +/- 2.48; C: 8.6 +/- 1.05; p = 0.0005) and total PUSH score (E: 7.35 +/- 3.17; C: 11.85 +/- 2.35; p = 0,0003). The patients in the experimental group had significantly better values of the parameters monitored than the patients in the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After a four-week polarized light therapy 20 patients with stage I-III ulcer had significant improvement in pressure ulcer healing, so it could be useful to apply polarized light in the treatment of pressure ulcers.
authors.affiliation: Military Medical Academy, Clinic for Phyisical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Aleksandar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Durović
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marić
authors.forename: Zorica
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Brdareski
authors.forename: Miodrag
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jevtić
authors.forename: Slavisa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Durdević
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014945:Wound Healing