title: The effect of low-level laser on postoperative pain after tibial fracture surgery: a double-blind controlled randomized clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Postoperative pain is a common complication that can lead to serious morbidities and delayed recovery.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of low-level laser therapy on acute pain after tibial fracture surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this randomized clinical trial, 54 patients who were candidate for tibial fracture surgery were allocated randomly to two groups, namely, control and laser therapy. Both groups had the same type of surgery and technique of spinal anesthesia. Patients in laser group were treated with the combination of two lasers (GaALAs, 808 nm; and GaALInP, 650 nm) at the end of the surgery while control group received laser in turn-off mode with the same duration as laser group. Patients were evaluated for pain intensity according to the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the amount of analgesic use during 24 hours after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Laser group experienced less pain intensity in comparison with control group at second, fourth, eighth, 12(th), and 24(th) hours after surgery (P Value < 0.05). In addition, the amount of consumed opioid in laser group was significantly less than the control group (51.62 ± 29.52 and 89.28 ± 35.54 mg, respectively; P Value, 0.008).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low Level Laser Therapy is a proper method to reduce postoperative pain because it is painless, safe, and noninvasive and is easily accepted by patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Sholeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nesioonpour
authors.affiliation: Canadian Optic and Laser Center, COL Center, Victoria, Canada.
authors.forename: Soheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mokmeli
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Salman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vojdani
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmadreza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohtadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Akhondzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Kaveh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Behaeen
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Shahnam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moosavi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hojjati
keywords: Low Level Laser Therapy; Postoperative Pain; Tibial Fracture Surgery