Venous ulcer healing treated with conventional therapy and adjuvant laser: is there a difference?

OBJECTIVES

to evaluate the effects of venous ulcer healing in patients after six months of conventional treatment and adjuvant low-power laser therapy.

METHODS

prospective cohort study nested in a randomized clinical trial with 38 patients, allocated into an intervention group (conventional treatment and adjuvant laser therapy) and a control group (conventional treatment). Patients were followed up as outpatients, sociodemographic and clinical variables were collected, and indicators of the outcomes Wound healing: secondary intention (1103) and Tissue integrity: skin and mucous membranes(1101) of the Nursing Outcomes Classification. Generalized estimating equations, Kaplan-Meier tests, and robust Poisson regression were used in the analysis.

RESULTS

the clinical indicators Decreased wound size and Scar formation showed a statistically significant difference in the intervention group, higher number of healed wounds, lower rate, longer time to relapse.

CONCLUSIONS

laser therapy adjuvant to conventional treatment returned better results in healing and lower recurrence rates after six months of intervention.