The effect of low level laser therapy (LLLT) on wound healing in horses

Laser therapy is used in many countries, including South Africa, for the tr eatment of skin wounds. Low level galium aluminium arsenide (GaAlAs) laser was administered to full thickness skin wounds (3 x 3 cm) induced surgicall y on the dorsal aspect of the metacarpophalangeal joints of 6 crossbred hor ses in a randomised, blind, controlled study, Treated wounds that received a daily laser dosage of 2 J/cm(2) were compared with nontreated control wou nds on the opposite leg. There were no wound complications. Both groups of wounds were cleaned daily using tap water. Wound contraction and epithelial isation were evaluated using photoplanimetry. There were no significant dif ferences in wound contraction or epithelialisation between the laser treate d and the control wounds. It was therefore concluded that laser therapy had no clinically significant effect on second intention wound healing in this study.