Efficacy of high intensity laser therapy in the management of foot ulcers: a systematic review.
Mohamed Salaheldien Alayat, Ahmed Mohamed El-Sodany, Anwar Abdelgayed Ebid and 4 others
PMID 30349176WHAT IT FOUND
High intensity laser therapy reduced wound size more than sham laser or standard care alone in three small trials.
The evidence is weak because the studies were not blinded and varied widely in how they delivered the treatment.
Key findings
01In two trials, adding high intensity laser therapy to standard medical care resulted in smaller wound surface areas than sham laser plus standard care.
02In one trial, high intensity laser therapy alone reduced wound surface area more effectively than standard medical therapy alone.
03All included studies were rated as fair quality, with none concealing allocation or blinding participants, therapists, or assessors.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
Only three studies were included, all with small sample sizes. None of the studies concealed allocation or blinded participants, therapists, or assessors, which increases the risk of bias. The laser protocols varied between studies, making it difficult to recommend a specific treatment dose or duration. One study did not have adequate follow-up data. Non-English studies were excluded, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Declared interests
The author declares no competing interests.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume HILT is a proven standalone cure for foot ulcers. The positive results come from only three small, unblinded trials with varying protocols, and the evidence quality is rated as fair at best.