title: Effect of low-level laser therapy (685 nm, 3 J/cm(2)) on functional recovery of the sciatic nerve in rats following crushing lesion.
abstract: Previous studies have shown that low-level laser therapy (LLLT) promotes posttraumatic nerve regeneration. The objective of the present study was to assess the efficacy of 685-nm LLLT at the dosage of 3 J/cm(2) in the functional recovery of the sciatic nerve in rats following crushing injury. The left sciatic nerves of 20 male Wistar rats were subjected to controlled crush injury by a hemostatic tweezers, and the rats were randomly allocated into two experimental groups as follows: control group and laser group. Laser irradiation (685 nm wavelength; 15 mW, CW, 3 J/cm(2), spot of 0.028 cm(2)) was started on the postsurgical first day, above the site of injury, and was continued for 21 consecutive days. Functional recovery was evaluated at 3 weeks postoperatively by measuring the sciatic functional index (SFI) and sciatic static index (SSI) at weekly intervals. The treated rats showed improvement in motion pattern. The SFI and SSI results were significant when comparing two groups on the 14th and 21st postoperative days (p < 0.05). There were intra-group differences detected in laser group in different periods (p < 0.05). Low-level laser irradiation, with the parameters used in the present study, accelerated and improved sciatic nerve function in rats after crushing injury.
authors.affiliation: Young Researchers and Elites Club, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran, dr_ashrafzadeh@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mohammad Ashrafzadeh
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Takhtfooladi
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jahanbakhsh
authors.forename: Hamed Ashrafzadeh
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Takhtfooladi
authors.forename: Kambiz
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yousefi
authors.forename: Amin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Allahverdi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy; D008297:Male; D009409:Nerve Crush; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000528:radiation effects*; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000293:injuries / Q000528:radiation effects