Lasers in Medical Science

, Volume 30, Issue 1, pp 193–201 | Cite as

Effect of phototherapy with light-emitting diodes (890 nm) on tendon repair: an experimental model in sheep

  • Luiz Henrique Lima de Mattos
  • Luis Emiliano Cisneros Álvarez
  • Ana Lúcia Miluzzi Yamada
  • Carlos Alberto Hussni
  • Celso Antonio Rodrigues
  • Marcos Jun Watanabe
  • Ana Liz Garcia Alves
Original Article
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

The effect of phototherapy with 890-nm light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on the healing of experimentally induced tendinitis in sheep was evaluated in this study. Partial tenotomies measuring 0.2 cm wide × 0.5 cm long were performed on the second third of the superficial digital flexor tendons of 10 healthy sheep. The animals were divided into two groups: “treated” (TG), treated with LEDs at the aforementioned wavelength, and “control” (CG), a control group treated with a placebo. Kinesiotherapy, which consisted of 5-min walks on grassy ground, was performed on both groups. B-mode and power Doppler ultrasonographies (US) were performed to evaluate the tendon healing process during the first 14 days after surgery and on the 21st and 28th postoperative days. Biopsies were performed on day 28 for the histopathological assessment of neovascularisation and the pattern of the tendon fibres. The absence of lameness and a significant improvement (p < 0.05) in the sensitivity to pain during palpation were observed in the treated group. Furthermore, a significant reduction in oedema and an increased number of vessels (p < 0.05) were observed in this group with the B-mode and power Doppler US, respectively. No significant difference in the evolution of the lesion was found. There was a histological difference (p < 0.05) in neovascularisation in the treated group. Phototherapy with 890-nm light-emitting diodes decreases the inflammatory process.

Keywords

Phototherapy Tendinitis Diodes Physiotherapy Laser 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

Thanks to the staff of the Veterinary Hospital of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista “Julio de Mesquita Filho”, Botucatu for their help in handling the animals and the Coordinating Body Enhancement Person (CAPES) for the master’s degree scholarship.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethics approval

This study has received approval of the SVMAS-SPSU Ethics Committee on Animal Use (protocol number 272/2011- CEUA).

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag London 2014

Authors and Affiliations

  • Luiz Henrique Lima de Mattos
    • 1
  • Luis Emiliano Cisneros Álvarez
    • 1
  • Ana Lúcia Miluzzi Yamada
    • 1
  • Carlos Alberto Hussni
    • 1
  • Celso Antonio Rodrigues
    • 1
  • Marcos Jun Watanabe
    • 1
  • Ana Liz Garcia Alves
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology of Large Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal ScienceUNESP - Univ Estadual PaulistaBotucatuBrazil

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