Skip to main content

Laser and Light for Wound Healing Stimulation

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Lasers in Dermatology and Medicine

Abstract

Understanding wound healing is critical for health care ­professionals mainly because of the enormous burden of chronic wounds on society. In addition, in many medical specialties, creating wounds for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes is part of a physician’s daily practice.

Acute wounds are usually closed using sutures, staples, or other methods of wound closure. Conventional modalities include maintenance of a moist wound bed, and prevention of infection. Although acute wounds are not challenging in most settings, they may influence the hospital stay or expenses related to medical procedures. Chronic wounds however, are more challenging. The incidence of chronic wounds in the United States is approximately five to seven million per year1 and the annual costs for management of these wounds is greater than $20 billion.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Petrie NC, Yao F, Eriksson E. Gene therapy in wound healing. Surg Clin N Am. 2003;83(3):194-199.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Harding KG, Morris HL, Patel GK. Science, medicine and the future: healing chronic wounds. BMJ. 2002;324:160-163.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Frykberg RG, Armstrong DG, Giurini J, et al. Diabetic foot disorders: a clinical practice guideline. American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2000;39(5 Suppl):S1-S60.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. de Araujo T, Valencia I, Federman DG, et al. Managing the patient with venous ulcers. Ann Intern Med. 2003;138:326-334.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Kirsner R. Wound healing. In: Bolognia JL, Jorizzo JL, Rapini RP, et al., eds. Dermatology. Edinburgh: Mosby; 2003:2207-2215.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Clark RAF. Wound repair: overview and general considerations. In: Clark RAF, ed. The Molecular and Cellular Biology of Wound Repair. London: Plenum Press; 1996:3-50.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Clark RA, Ghosh K, Tonnesen MG. Tissue engineering for cutaneous wounds. J Invest Dermatol. 2007;127(5):1018-1029.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Werner S, Krieg T, Smola H. Keratinocyte-fibroblast interactions in wound healing. J Invest Dermatol. 2007;127(5):998-1008.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Mast BA, Schultz GS. Interactions of cytokines, growth factors, and proteases in acute and chronic wounds. Wound Repair Regen. 1996;4:411-420.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Booth BA, Polak KL, Uitto J. Collagen biosynthesis by human skin fibroblasts. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1980;607:145-160.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Lazarus GS, Cooper DM, Knighton DR, et al. Definitions and guidelines for assessment of wounds and evaluation of healing. Arch Dermatol. 1994;130(4):489-493.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Steed DL. Wound-healing trajectories. Surg Clin N Am. 2003;83(3):206-208.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Williams JZ, Barbul A. Nutrition and wound healing. Surg Clin N Am. 2003;83(3):193-197.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Mester E, Spiry T, Szende B, et al. Effect of laser rays on wound healing. Am J Surg. 1971;122(4):532-535.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Bass LS, Treat MR. Laser tissue welding: a comprehensive review of current and future clinical applications. Lasers Surg Med. 1995;7:315-349.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Kirsch AJ, Cooper CS, Gatti J, et al. Laser tissue soldering for hypospadias repair: results of a controlled prospective clinical trial. J Urol. 2001;65:574-577.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Simhon D, Halpern M, Brosh T, et al. Immediate tight sealing of skin incisions using an innovative temperature-controlled laser soldering device: in vivo study in porcine skin. Ann Surg. 2007;245(2):206-213.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Sigel B, Acevedo FJ. Vein anastomosis by electrocoaptive union. Surg Forum. 1962;13:291.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Garden JM, Robinson JK, Taute PM, et al. The low-output carbon dioxide laser for cutaneous wound closure of scalpel incisions: comparative tensile strength studies of the laser to the suture and staple for wound closure. Lasers Surg Med. 1986;6(1):67-71.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Abergel RP, Lyons RF, White RA, et al. Skin closure by Nd:YAG laser welding. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1986;14(5):810-814.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Wang S, Grubbs PE Jr, Basu S, et al. Effect of blood bonding on bursting strength of laser-assisted microvascular anastomoses. Microsurgery. 1988;9(1):10-13.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. McKennan KX. “Tissue welding” with the argon laser in middle ear surgery. Laryngoscope. 1990;100(11):1143-1145.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Talmor M, Bleustein CB, Poppas DP. Laser tissue welding: a biotechnological advance for the future. Arch Facial Plast Surg. 2001;3:207-213.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Tang J, Godlewski G, Rouy S, et al. Morphologic changes in collagen fibers after 830 nm diode laser welding. Lasers Surg Med. 1997;21(5):438-443.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Jain KK, Gorisch W. Repair of small blood vessels with the neodymium-YAG laser: a preliminary report. Surgery. 1979;85(6):684-688.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Simhon D, Ravid A, Halpern M, et al. Laser soldering of rat skin, using fiberoptic temperature controlled system. Lasers Surg Med. 2001;29(3):265-273.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Capon A, Mordon S. Can thermal lasers promote skin wound healing. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2003;4(1):1-12.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Abergel RP, Lyons R, Dwyer R, et al. Use of lasers for closure of cutaneous wounds: experience with Nd:YAG, argon and CO2 lasers. J Dermatol Surg Oncol. 1986;12:1181-1185.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Massicotte JM, Stewart RB, Poppas DP. Effects of endogenous absorption in human albumin solder for acute laser wound closure. Lasers Surg Med. 1998;23:18-24.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Lauto A. Repair strength dependence on solder protein concentration: a study in laser tissue-welding. Lasers Surg Med. 1998;22:120-125.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Levanon D, Katzir A, Ravid A. A scanning electron microscopy study of CO2 laser-albumin soldering in the rabbit model. Photomed Laser Surg. 2004;22(6):461-469.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Wider TM, Libutti SK, Greenwald DP, et al. Skin closure with dye-enhanced laser welding and fibrinogen. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1991;88:1018-1025.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Lauto A, Foster LJ, Ferris L, et al. Albumin-genipin solder for laser tissue repair. Lasers Surg Med. 2004;35(2):140-145.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Birch JF, Mandley DJ, Williams SL, et al. Methylene blue based protein solder for vascular anastomoses: an in vitro burst pressure study. Lasers Surg Med. 2000;26(3):323-329.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Lauto A, Kerman I, Felsen D, Poppas D. Two-layer film as a laser soldering biomaterial. Lasers Surg Med. 1999;25:250-256.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. DeCoste SD, Farinelli W, Flotte T, et al. Dye-enhanced laser welding for skin closure. Lasers Surg Med. 1992;12(1):25-32.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Small W 4th, Heredia NJ, Maitland DJ, et al. Dye-enhanced protein solders and patches in laser-assisted tissue welding. J Clin Laser Med Surg. 1997;15(5):205-208.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Gobin AM, O’Neal DP, Watkins DM, et al. Near infrared laser-tissue welding using nanoshells as an exogenous absorber. Lasers Surg Med. 2005;37(2):123-129.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Poppas DP, Massicotte JM, Stewart RB, et al. Human albumin solder supplemented with TGF-beta 1 accelerates healing following laser welded wound closure. Lasers Surg Med. 1996;19(3):360-368.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Seki S. Techniques for better suturing. Br J Surg. 1988;75:1181-1184.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Gennari R, Rotmensz N, Ballardini B, et al. A prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial of tissue adhesive (2-octylcyanoacrylate) versus standard wound closure in breast surgery. Surgery. 2004;136(3):593-599.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Ong CC, Jacobsen AS, Joseph VT. Comparing wound closure using tissue glue versus subcuticular suture for pediatric surgical incisions: a prospective, randomised trial. Pediatr Surg Int. 2002;18:553-555.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Schober R, Ulrich F, Sander T, et al. Laser-induced alteration of collagen substructure allows microsurgical tissue welding. Science. 1986;232:1421-1422.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Simhon D, Brosh T, Halpern M, et al. Closure of skin incisions in rabbits by laser soldering: I: wound healing pattern. Lasers Surg Med. 2004;35:1-11.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Helmsworth TF, Wright CB, Scheffter SM, et al. Molecular surgery of the basement membrane by the argon laser. Lasers Surg Med. 1990;10:576-583.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Peavy GM. Lasers and laser-tissue interaction. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2002;32(3):517-534.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Gulsoy M, Dereli Z, Tabakoglu HO, et al. Closure of skin incisions by 980-nm diode laser welding. Lasers Med Sci. 2006;21:5-10.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Mester E, Mester AF, Mester A. The biomedical effects of laser application. Lasers Surg Med. 1988;5:607-614.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Wheeland RG. Lasers for stimulation or inhibition of wound healing. J Dermatol Surg Oncol. 1993;19:747-752.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Kawalec JS, Hetherington VJ, Pfennigwerth TC, et al. Effect of a diode laser on wound healing by using diabetic and nondiabetic mice. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2004;43(4):214-220.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Dixon JA. Current laser applications in general surgery. Ann Surg. 1988;207(4):355-372.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Juri H, Obeide A, Young S. CO2 laser in decubitus ulcers. Lasers Med Surg. 1985;5:143-144.

    Google Scholar 

  53. Schindl A, Schindl M, Schindl L. Successful treatment of persistent radiation ulcer by low power laser therapy. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1997;37:646-648.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Allendorf JD, Bessler M, Huang J, et al. Helium-neon laser irradiation at fluences of 1, 2, and 4 J/cm2 failed to accelerate wound healing as assessed by wound contracture rate and tensile strength. Lasers Surg Med. 1997;20:340-345.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Basford JR. Low-energy laser therapy: controversies and new research findings. Lasers Surg Med. 1989;9:1-5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Bilhari I, Mester AR. The biostimulative effect of low level laser therapy of long-standing crural ulcers using helium neon laser, helium neon plus infrared lasers, and noncoherent light: preliminary report of a randomized double-blind comparative study. Laser Ther. 1989;1(Pt 2):97-98.

    Google Scholar 

  57. Schindl A, Heinze G, Schindl M, et al. Systemic effects of low-intensity laser irradiation on skin microcirculation in patients with diabetic microangiopathy. Microvasc Res. 2002;64(2):240-246.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Reddy GK, Stehno-Bittel L, Enwemeka CS. Laser photostimulation accelerates wound healing in diabetic rats. Wound Repair Regen. 2001;9(3):248-255.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Yu W, Naim JO, Lanzafame RJ. Effects of photostimulation on wound healing in diabetic mice. Lasers Surg Med. 1997;20(1):56-63.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Abergel RP, Meeker CA, Lam TS, Dwyer RM, Lesavoy MA, Uitto J. Control of connective tissue metabolism by lasers: recent developments and future prospects. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1984;11:1142-1150.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Pourreau-Schneider N, Ahmed A, Soudry M, et al. Helium-neon laser treatment transforms fibroblasts into myofibroblasts. Am J Pathol. 1990;137:171-178.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Boulton M, Marshall J. He-Ne laser stimulation of human fibroblast proliferation and attachment in vitro. Lasers Life Sci. 1986;1:125-134.

    Google Scholar 

  63. Posten W, Wrone DA, Dover JS, et al. Low-level laser therapy for wound healing: mechanism and efficacy. Dermatol Surg. 2005;31(3):334-340.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Pereira AN, EduardoCde P, Matson E, Marques MM. Effect of low-power laser irradiation on cell growth and procollagen synthesis of cultured fibroblasts. Lasers Surg Med. 2002;31:263-267.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Medrado AR, Pugliese LS, Reis SR, Andrade ZA. Influence of low level laser therapy on wound healing and its biological action upon myofibroblasts. Lasers Surg Med. 2003;32:239-244. 12605432.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Schindl A, Merwald H, Schindl L, et al. Direct stimulatory effect of low-intensity 670 nm laser irradiation on human endothelial cell proliferation. Br J Dermatol. 2003;148:334-336.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. Lyons RF, Abergel RP, White RA, et al. Biostimulation of wound healing in vivo by a helium-neon laser. Ann Plast Surg. 1987;18:47-50.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  68. Stadler I, Lanzafame RJ, Evans R, et al. 830-nm irradiation increases the wound tensile strength in a diabetic murine model. Lasers Surg Med. 2001;28:220-226.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Navid Bouzari .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer-Verlag London Limited

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Bouzari, N., Elsaie, M.L., Nouri, K. (2011). Laser and Light for Wound Healing Stimulation. In: Nouri, K. (eds) Lasers in Dermatology and Medicine. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-85729-281-0_20

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-85729-281-0_20

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-85729-280-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-85729-281-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics