title: Histological assessment of non-ablative laser stimulation of tissue repair in acellular dermal grafts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to compare integration of AlloDerm® acellular dermal grafts in animals subjected to non-ablative laser irradiation and animals not exposed to this therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Standardized AlloDerm® fragments measuring 5 mm² were grafted into the subcutaneous tissue overlying the calvaria in 32 Wistar rats. Laser therapy (685 ηm), at a dose of 4 J/cm2 per session, was applied immediately after surgical intervention and every 48 hours thereafter for a total of four applications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analysis of histology slides revealed significantly greater edema in the control group. There was no neutrophil infiltration in the laser-irradiated group at any point during the study period, whereas such infiltration was present in control animals at three of the four points of observation. In the laser therapy group, lymphocyte infiltration was observed from day 1, whereas in the control group, it was only apparent from day 3. Vascularization was substantially greater in the control group. In the experimental group, the AlloDerm® graft was completely replaced by fibrous tissue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that add-on non-ablative laser therapy is an effective stimulator of healing and graft integration after placement of AlloDerm® acellular dermal grafts.
authors.affiliation: Oral and maxillofacial Department Pontifícia Universidade do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil - gerhardtoliveira@gmail.com.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cenci
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Etges
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zerbinatti
mesh_terms: D062088:Acellular Dermis; D000818:Animals; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000528:radiation effects; D003094:Collagen; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005355:Fibrosis; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000528:radiation effects; D020007:Implants, Experimental; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D012886:Skull; D040521:Subcutaneous Tissue / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000528:radiation effects*
chemical_list: C440568:Alloderm; D003094:Collagen