Low Level Laser Therapy to Reduce Comorbidity in Spinal Surgery

Each year, more than one million individuals worldwide are submitted to laminectomies, with a failure rate higher than 40%. Postlaminectomy epidural adhesion is implicated as a main cause of ''failed back surgery syndrome'' and associated with increased risk of complications during revision surgery. The postoperative epidural scar can cause extradural compression or dural tethering, which results in recurrent radicular pain and physical impairment. Several studies in the literature are signalizing that Low-Level-Laser-Therapy (LLLT) is proven to be an effective tool to assist the inflammatory process and wound healing, as well to prevent infection. Thus, the objectives of this project are to delineate and evaluate the LLLT effects in spinal surgery. A prospective randomized, controlled trial with a total of 48 patients who underwent laminectomy, were divided into 2 groups. In the first group, 25 patients received LLLT during the surgical procedure over dura mater, over subcutaneous and on the skin, as well as 24h and 72h post surgery. In the second group, 23 patients were induced to think they will be getting the same treatment, although the laser is not operating. In those groups, C reactive protein, Lactate Dehydrogenase and Creatine kinase were evaluated in the second and fifth days after surgery, digital temperature will be measured and scores in visual analogue scale will be used, 5 minutes pre and 5 minutes post Laser application. The drainage output was collected in the first three days following surgery in both groups. Interleukins were evaluated in interstitial infiltrate drained in 24h and 48h. The data was evaluated for normality and subjected to appropriate statistical analysis, in order to seek representation, as same as the level of significance of the studied samples.