Assessment of bone repair following the use of anorganic bone graft and membrane associated or not to 830-nm laser light

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of LLLT (λ830nm, Thera lase, DMC Equipmentos, Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil, 40mW, CW, spot size 0.60mm, 16J/cm² per session) on the repair of bone defects on the femur of Wistar albinus rats which were grafted with anorganic bovine bone associated or not to bovine bone membrane. Five randomized groups were studied: I (Control); II (anorganic bovine bone); III (anorganic bovine bone + LLLT); IV (anorganic bovine bone + bovine bone membrane) and V (anorganic bovine bone + bovine bone membrane + LLLT). The animals were irradiated at every 48h during 15 days, the first irradiation was performed immediately after the procedure. The animals were irradiated transcutaneuosly in four points around the defect. At each point a dose of 4J/cm² was given (f~0,60mm, 40mW) totaling 16J/cm² per session. The animals were sacrificed 15, 21 and 30 days after surgery. The specimens were routinely processed to wax and stained with H&E and Picrosírius stains and analyzed under light microscopy. The results showed evidence of a more advanced repair on the irradiated groups when compared to non-irradiated ones. The repair of irradiated groups was characterized by both increased bone formation and amount of collagen fibers around the graft within the cavity early, considering the osteoconductive capacity of the anorganic bovine bone and the increment of the cortical repair in specimens with membrane. It is concluded that LLLT had a positive effect on the repair of bone defect submitted the implantation of graft associated or not to the use of biological membrane.