Research Article

Effects of laser irradiation on the spinal cord for the regeneration of crushed peripheral nerve in rats

  1. Semion Rochkind MD1,*,
  2. Moshe Nissan PhD2,
  3. Malvina Alon MD3,
  4. Merav Shamir VetD4,
  5. Khalil Salame MD1

Article first published online: 2 APR 2001

DOI: 10.1002/lsm.1041

Issue

Lasers in Surgery and Medicine

Lasers in Surgery and Medicine

Volume 28, Issue 3, pages 216–219, 2001

Additional Information

How to Cite

Rochkind, S., Nissan, M., Alon, M., Shamir, M. and Salame, K. (2001), Effects of laser irradiation on the spinal cord for the regeneration of crushed peripheral nerve in rats. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, 28: 216–219. doi: 10.1002/lsm.1041

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Neurosurgery, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel

  2. 2

    Department of Orthopedics, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel

  3. 3

    Department of Rehabilitation, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel

  4. 4

    The Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

*Department of Neurosurgery, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, 6 Weizman Street, Tel Aviv 64239, Israel.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 2 APR 2001
  2. Article first published online: 2 APR 2001
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 21 JUL 2000

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Keywords:

  • peripheral nerve injury;
  • compound muscle action potentials;
  • low-power laser;
  • spinal cord irradiation;
  • rats

Abstract

Background and Objective

The purpose of the present study was to examine the recovery of the crushed sciatic nerve of rats after low-power laser irradiation applied to the corresponding segments of the spinal cord.

Study Design/Materials and Methods

After a crush injury to the sciatic nerve in rats, low-power laser irradiation was applied transcutaneously to corresponding segments of the spinal cord immediately after closing the wound by using 16 mW, 632 nm He-Ne laser. The laser treatment was repeated 30 minutes daily for 21 consecutive days.

Results

The electrophysiologic activity of the injured nerves (compound muscle action potentials—CMAPs) was found to be approximately 90% of the normal precrush value and remained so for up to a long period of time. In the control nonirradiated group, electrophysiologic activity dropped to 20% of the normal precrush value at day 21 and showed the first signs of slow recovery 30 days after surgery. The two groups were found to be significantly different during follow-up period (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

This study suggests that low-power laser irradiation applied directly to the spinal cord can improve recovery of the corresponding insured peripheral nerve. Lasers Surg. Med. 28:216–219, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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