Assessing the functional and histological effect of low-level laser therapy on spinal cord compression induced injuries on Wistar rats

Abstract

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has become an increasingly mainstream modality, especially in the areas of physical medicine and rehabilitation. This study aimed to determine the functional and histological changes that occur at the lower thoracic - upper lumber segments associated with the irradiation with LLLT in compression-induced injuries in Wistar rat’s spinal cord. Eighteen rats were randomized into three groups; six rats in each. Group A (sham) with laminectomy only, group B laminectomy plus cord compression injury and finally group C had laminectomy plus cord compression injury plus irradiated with LLLT two times, one after 2 hours from the injury and another after 24 hours from the first dose, each of these doses lasted for 42 minutes. The lesion site for group C directly was irradiated to the spinal direction with a 905 nm diode laser with an output power of 25 mW. The functional recovery was measured by locomotor test (BBB scale) and the histopathological changes were assessed in all groups after two weeks. Rats treated with laser showed a significant improvement in the locomotor functions compared to spinally injured rats. While histopathological evaluations in group C showed mild changes in comparison with group B that suggested significant recovery of the spinal cord compression injury. These findings demonstrated that the 905 nm wavelength laser is a promising neuroprotective non-invasive treatment for improving functional recovery after spinal cord injury.

Keywords: Low-level laser therapy, spinal cord compression, Wistar rats, spinal cord injury.

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