title: Therapeutic outcomes of low-level laser therapy for closed bone fracture in the human wrist and hand.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The therapeutic outcomes of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on closed bone fractures (CBFs) in the wrist and hand were investigated in this controlled study.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Animal research has confirmed that LLLT increases osteocyte quantity; however, little research has been conducted to determine the effect of LLLT on the treatment of human bone fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, the therapeutic outcomes of administering 830 nm LLLT to treat CBFs in the wrist or hand were examined. Fifty patients with CBFs in the wrist and hand, who had not received surgical treatment, were recruited and randomly assigned to two groups. The laser group underwent a treatment program in which 830 nm LLLT (average power 60 mW, peak power 8 W, 10 Hz, 600 sec, and 9.7 J/cm(2) per fracture site) was administered five times per week for 2 weeks. Participants in a placebo group received sham laser treatment. The pain, functional disability, grip strength, and radiographic parameters of the participants were evaluated before and after treatment and at a 2-week follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After treatment and at the follow-up, the laser group exhibited significant changes in all of the parameters compared with the baseline (p<0.05). The results of comparing the two groups after treatment and at the follow-up indicated significant between-group differences among all of the parameters (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LLLT can relieve pain and improve the healing process of CBFs in the human wrist and hand.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Sports Medicine, China Medical University , Taichung City, Taiwan (R.O.C) .
authors.forename: Wen-Dien
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Jih-Huah
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Hui-Ju
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Joe-Air
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005596:Fractures, Closed / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014954:Wrist Injuries / Q000532:radiotherapy*