RESUMO
The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of laser therapy in the treatment of chronic leg venous ulcer, which is resistant to surgical or conservative treatment. Thirty patients with chronic leg venous ulcers were chosen from surgery and vascular surgery clinics at El-haram health insurance and El-sahel teaching hospital and subjected to laser therapy at Faculty of physical therapy, Cairo university. They were 22 males and 8 females, their ages ranged from 30 to 50 years [25 patients had post-phlebitic syndrome and 5 patients had recurrent V.V with incompetent ankle perforators and cocket's ligation was done for them]. Divided into two groups: The 1[st] is the study group [15 patients:10 males and 5 females] and the 2[nd] is the control group [15 patients: 12 males and 3 females], during a period of 15 month Nov.2005-Jan. 2007]. Both groups were good evaluated. The ulcer measures [size and volume] were taken, and both groups received the same conservative measures. But the 1[st] [study] group received the low level laser therapy [2 setting weekly for 2 months] in addition to conservative measures, and the ulcer measures [size and volume] were evaluated before, one month after and at the end of the study. Both groups were comparable for, demographic, clinical and diagnostic data which were statically analyzed, and were shown statistical significant decrease in ulcer surface area and ulcer volume after one month and after two months of laser therapy in the 1[st] group, but there were no statistical significant difference in ulcer surface area and ulcer volume after one month and after two months of medical treatment in the 2[nd]. group. From this study, we conclude that low intensity level laser therapy is an effective modality in the treatment of chronic leg venous ulcers, which are resistant to surgical and/or conservative treatment