effect of low-power helium-neon laser radiation on the healing of deep second-degree burns in rats

introduction: this paper presents the results of a study on the effects of two differentdoses of low-power laser irradiation on healing of deep second degree burns. material and methods: 60 rats were randomly allocated to one of four groups. adeep second-degree burn was inflicted in each rat. in the control group (cg) burns remained untreated; in groups lg1 and lg2 the burns were irradiated with low-power helium neon laser with energy densities of 1.2 j/cm2 and 2.4 j/cm2 respectively. in the fourth group (g4) the burns were treated topically with 0.2% nitrofurazone cream. the response to treatments was assessed histologically at 7, 16 and 30 days after burning and microbiologically at day 15. results: the number of macrophages and the depth of new epidermis was significantly lessin the laser treated groups compared to control and nitrofuorazone treated groups. staphylococcus epidermidis was found in the wounds of all rats in the laser treated groups. conclusion: irradiation of deep second-degree burn with low-power laser produced no beneficial effects on healing of burns.