The Effects of Low-Level Laser Therapy on Wound Healing and Pain Management in Skin Wounds: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (2024)
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This study reviewed and analyzed 18 randomized controlled trials involving 670 skin wounds to evaluate whether low-level laser therapy (LLLT)/photobiomodulation improves wound healing and pain compared with standard care or no LLLT.
Key findings:
- Faster wound healing: LLLT significantly improved wound size reduction compared with controls.
- Higher complete healing rates: Wounds treated with LLLT were more likely to heal completely.
- Pain reduction: Patients receiving LLLT had lower pain scores (including VAS pain scores).
- Benefits were seen across different skin wound types, including ulcers and surgical/perineal wounds.
Conclusion:
The meta-analysis suggests that LLLT may be an effective non-invasive therapy to enhance wound healing and reduce pain in skin wounds. However, the authors noted that higher-quality clinical trials are still needed because study quality and treatment protocols varied.
Why it matters (PBM/LLLT):
This supports growing evidence that photobiomodulation can improve tissue repair, likely through cellular effects such as enhanced healing response and reduced inflammation/pain signaling, though optimal treatment parameters still need stronger standardization.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39610644/