title: Macro and microscopic analysis of island skin grafts after low-level laser therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effects of low intensity laser therapy in inflammation, wound healing and epithelialization of island skin grafts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty rats were subjected to this grafting technique and divided subsequently into two equal groups, one treated with laser and the other control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  there was less inflammation, faster healing, epithelialization and keratinization in the laser-treated animals when compared to the untreated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low intensity laser therapy is helpful to island skin grafting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, State University of Santa Cruz - UESC, Ilheus, Bahia State - BA, Brazil. elisangelavet@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Elisângela Barboza
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Cintia Lúcia
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Maniscalco
authors.forename: Greyson Victor Zanatta
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Ésper
authors.forename: Ricardo Romão
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: Ivo I
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Kerppers
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012867:Skin / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000528:radiation effects*