A randomized controlled trial comparing helium-neon laser therapy and infrared laser therapy in patients with diabetic foot ulcer

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the effects of (HNLT) and (ILT) on diabetic foot ulcer. Sixty-five patients with diabetic foot ulcer (51 males and 14 females) aged 50–60 years. The participants were classified randomly to two groups, groups I and II. Group I received helium-neon laser therapy (HNLT) and conventional therapy with and group II received infrared laser therapy (ILT) and conventional therapy with for 8 weeks. Ulcer surface area was assessed using a sheet of cellophane paper at the beginning of the study, after 4 weeks, and after 8 weeks at the end of the study. At the beginning of the study, baseline clinical characteristics showed non-significant differences between the two groups (p > 0.05). After 4 weeks intervention, there were significant improvements in ulcer surface area in the two groups (p < 0.05). At the end of the study, after 8 weeks intervention, there were higher reduction in ulcer area in HNLT group more than ILT group, but this difference was statistically non- significant between the two groups (p > 0.05). The present study demonstrates that HNLT and ILT have similar effects to control diabetic foot ulcer in a short-term (up to 8 weeks). Eight weeks of laser therapy have beneficial impacts in diabetic foot ulcer.