Comparison of laser class 1m and class 4 applications in canine cranial cruciate ligament rupture evaluated by clinical outcomes and ultrasonography

Abstract

Nineteen dogs diagnosed of cranial cruciate ligament rupture were included in this study before TPLO was performed. They were classified into 3 groups which consisted of control, low-level laser therapy class 1M and low-level laser therapy class 4 groups. The number of each group were 4, 8 and 7 dogs, respectively, and the duration of treatment protocol was 4 weeks consecutively. On the first day of the study, dogs were examined and assessed of the clinical signs such as lameness score, synovial fluid analysis, canine brief pain inventory questionnaire (CBPI) and ultrasonographic score. In ultrasonographic monitoring, ultrasonographic scores on synovial effusion, articular cartilage and bone surface were given. The control group received only NSAIDs while low-level laser therapy group received 3 weeks-protocol; the first week consisted of 3 visits alternatively, the second week was 2 visits alternately and the last week was 1 visit. On the last week of visit, clinical outcomes and ultrasonographic monitoring were performed. The results revealed low-level laser therapies either class 1M or class 4 had a potential of pain-relief and reducing inflammation in the same level of using NSAIDs. Additionally, dogs with unhealthy condition were taking advantage of lessening the adverse effect of drugs. The results of this study shown that two classes of low-level laser therapy had an efficacy in pain control and relieve clinical sign as the level of giving NSAIDs which benefit in unhealthy dogs’ conidition.