Laser and Sports Medicine in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Junichiro Kubota M.D.

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

Flap survival with diode laser therapy: Skin flap or graft surgery are major procedures in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Skin flap necrosis has been a problem. The author reported on the enhanced blood flow following the low reactive laser therapy in skin flaps. The 830 nm diode laser (20 – 60 mw) irradiated flaps showed a greater perfusion, a greater number of blood vessels, and a higher rate of survival areas than the control flaps in the rat models and clinical cases. Improvement of wound healing with diode laser therapy: Diode laser therapy was indicated for traumatic skin ulcers from sport activities and traffic accidents which were resistant to conservative treatment. The diode laser system with a wavelength of 830 nm. and output power of 150or 1000mw in continuous wave was applied with the non-contact method to the area on the wound for one minute once a day every day during the treatment period. The diode laser was used successfully for the rapid enhanced healing of traumatic skin ulcers.

Discussion: Most injured patients hope to avoid a surgical operation, trying instead conservative treatments. The diode laser therapy improved the flap circulation and wound healing of severe skin ulcers. This therapy has been applied for temporomandibular joint pain and favorable results were obtained. The diode laser therapy proved to be particularly effective for pain attenuation. The diode laser therapy offers an additional convenient, safe, and side-effect free method. On the other hand, the Q-switched Nd:YAG laser system consistently achieved good results concomitant with easy and safe operation, with lightening of the target lesions.