Effect of low-level laser therapy on fracture healing in rabbits.

Background and aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on radial bone fracture gap healing in a rabbit model.

Materials Subjects and Methods: Thirty male white New Zealand rabbits under general anesthesia had a 3mm slice of radial bone surgically removed. Fifteen rabbits were treated by 830 nm laser at 4 J/cm2 and 15 were used as non-treated controls. Callus development was assessed by X-ray and radiographs every 7 days for 3 weeks.

Results: Significant radiologic changes were observed in both groups against time (P > 0.001) or from week to week (P > 0.05). However, there was no statistical difference in radiologic scores after week 2 (P = 0.087) or week 3 (P = 0.077) between control and laser treated bone.

Conclusions: Findings suggest that in this study, laser treatment did not enhance callus formation nor reduce repair time of complete fracture of the radius in rabbits.