title: Assessment of functional recovery of sciatic nerve in rats submitted to low-level laser therapy with different fluences. An experimental study: laser in functional recovery in rats.
abstract: Peripheral nerve lesions caused sensory and motor deficits along the distribution of the injured nerve. Numerous researches have been carried out to enhance and/or accelerate the recovery of such lesions. The objective of this study was to assess the functional recovery of sciatic nerve in rats subjected to different fluences of low-level laser therapy (LLLT). Thirty-six animals were randomly divided into four groups: one consisting of sham rats and three others irradiated with progressive fluencies of 10 J/cm(2), 40 J/cm(2) and 80 J/cm(2) of laser AsGaAl (830 nm) for 21 consecutive days. They were evaluated by the Sciatic Functional Index (SFI) method. The crush injury was performed by using a portable device with dead weight of 5,000 g whose load was applied for 10 min. A digital camera was used to record the footprints left on the acrylic track, before surgery and after, on the 7th, 14th, and 21st days. The results also showed that on the 7th day, there was a difference between the groups irradiated with 40 J/cm(2), when compared with the sham group (p < 0.05). On the 14th day the groups irradiated with 40 J/cm(2) and 80 J/cm(2) also presented better results when compared with sham, however, on the 21st day, no inter-group difference was found (p > 0.05). It was possible to observe that the LLLT at fluency of 40 J/cm(2) and 80 J/cm(2) had a positive influence on the acceleration of the functional nerve recovery.
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduation Progamme Rehabilitation and Functional Performance, Department of Biomechanics, Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Locomotor Apparatus, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP Brazil ; Departamento de Biomecânica, Medicina e Reabilitação do Aparelho Locomotor, FMRP-USP, Av; Bandeirantes, 3900, CEP 14049-900 Ribeirão Preto, SP Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandre Marcio
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Marcolino
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduation Progamme Rehabilitation and Functional Performance, Department of Biomechanics, Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Locomotor Apparatus, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael Inácio
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduation Progamme Rehabilitation and Functional Performance, Department of Biomechanics, Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Locomotor Apparatus, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP Brazil.
authors.forename: Lais Mara Siqueira
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: das Neves
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomechanics, Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Locomotor Apparatus, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP Brazil.
authors.forename: Nilton
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mazzer
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomechanics, Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Locomotor Apparatus, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP Brazil.
authors.forename: Rinaldo Roberto
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: de Jesus Guirro
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomechanics, Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Locomotor Apparatus, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP Brazil.
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Cássia Registro Fonseca
keywords: Low-level laser therapy; Nerve crush; Nerve regeneration; Sciatic nerve