RESUMO
Introduction: This paper presents the results of a study on the effects of two different doses 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. A deep 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/cm[2] and 2.4 J/cm[2] 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 less in 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