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PBM is a strong support in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers

01.01.2015

Diabetic foot ulcers: Significant reduction of the percentage wound area by cointervention with LLLT to standard therapy according to guideline (RCT 2012)

The study confirms the effectiveness of laser therapy in curing chronic diabetic foot ulcers

Since 2012, there has finally been a clinical study on the promotion of wound healing by LLLT in difficult-to-heal wounds. The LLLT is already used in some wound competence centers in addition to standard therapy, but is still often considered controversial because it is only legitimized by many years of experience (see also the e studies of the Wound Center of the Academic Teaching Hospital of the LMU Munich/Schwabing by A. Süß-Burghart, M. Füchtenbusch, A. Füchtenbusch) and the Wound Competence Center Linz/ Kammerlander).
Diabetic foot ulcers are severe complications in diabetes mellitus and very often difficult to treat with standard wound therapy. The healing process stagnates in the inflammatory stage and it has not yet been researched why it does not heal despite systemic antibiotic treatment, optimal glycaemic control and consistent pressure relief.
It is estimated that more than 150 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes mellitus and that this number will double by 2025. About 15% of those affected develop a foot ulcer and 6-40% of them have to undergo amputation (National diabetes fact sheet: general information and national estimates on diabetes in the United States, 2002. Atlanta: US Dept of Health and Human Services; 2002.).
The randomized, controlled study was conducted over a period of 2 years (2008-2010) with 68 patients, all already approved for surgery.
Patients in the study group received regular LLLT in addition to standard wound therapy. The wounds of these patients contracted significantly better than those of the control group.

Source
Efficacy of Low Level Laser Therapy on Wound Healing in Patients with Chronic Diabetic Foot Ulcers?A Randomised Control Trial
Basavaraj M. Kajagar, Ashok S. Godhi, Archit Pandit, and S. Khatri
Indian J Surg. 2012 oct; 74(5); 359-363