First Experience with Photobiomodulation (PBM) in Post-Surgical Wound Healing In Dogs

This prospective clinical study aimed to evaluate effectiveness and tolerability of PBM in canine post-surgical wound healing. Seven female dogs with post-neutering surgical skin wounds of at least 3 cm in length were selected. One-half of the wound was treated with a portable soft GaAlAs-laser and the other left untreated thus all subjects included in the study were simultaneously “treated” and “control”. The treated and control areas were evaluated and allocated a clinical score on the first day (D0) and at the end of laser treatment (D4). The protocol was twice daily, 6 minute, laser treatments for 5 days. Paired and un-paired t-test were used to compare scores in treated and control areas and between treated and control areas at D0 and D4. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Almost all treated areas had greater visible clinical improvement compared to control areas. Nevertheless, statistical analysis showed that there was no significant difference between the total clinical score of treated areas and control areas at D0 (P=1.0000) and no statistical significant difference between the two groups at D4 (P=0.2315). There was a statistically significant decrease in exudate at D4 in treated areas compared to control areas (P=0.0300). There was also a statistically significant difference between total score of the treated areas at D0 and at D4 (P=0.0167) but also between D0 and D4 of the control areas (P=0.0223). No adverse reactions were reported. PBM caused a visible clinical improvement of post-operative healing of surgical wounds, but this was not statistically significant; however there was a statistically significant decrease in exudate in treated areas. It would be interesting to extend the study to more extensive surgical wounds in more dogs.