RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of two phototherapies, laser and polarized light, on diode laser (970lambda nm) wounds. BACKGROUND DATA: Lasers have been used in surgery, and some wavelengths may cause thermal damage to the tissue and affect healing. Several studies have shown that some wavelengths are effective in improving healing. Coherent and noncoherent light have been successfully used on the modulation of biological phenomena of several origins. ANIMALS AND METHODS: Thirty-one Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups (GI to GIII). A 20-mm x 2-mm wound was created on the dorsum of each animal with a diode laser (Sirolaser, Sirona, Bensheim, Germany). Group GI acted as control. On GII, laser light (lambda655 nm, 30 mW, phi approximately 3 mm, 12 J/cm(2)) was used and on GIII illumination with polarized light (lambda400-2000 nm, 40 mW, phi approximately 5.5 cm, 12 J/cm(2)) was used, every other day (GII) or daily (GIII) for 7 days. The animals were killed at 0, 7, and 14 days after surgery. Specimens were taken, routinely processed, stained and imunnomarked [HE (hematoxylin-eosin), sirius red, alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA)], and underwent histological analysis. RESULTS: GII showed better response at day 14 when re-epithelialization was in a more advanced stage. The number of myofibroblasts was significantly different over the healing time (7 to 14 days); this number was smaller than that observed on G1. On GIII at day 7, the number of myofibroblasts was significantly higher than for GII. At day 14, a more pronounced deposition of collagen matrix was also seen, and inflammation was discrete and more advanced for GIII. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study showed that the effect of the use of laser light was more evident at early stages of healing and that the use of polarized light improved the resolution of the inflammatory reaction, increased the deposition of collagen, increased the number of myofibroblasts, and quickened re-epithelialization during the experimental time.