Aim: The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of the Erbium-Yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) laser on diabetic foot ulcer that had not responded to standard care.
Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 23 patients with c non-healing diabetic foot ulcers that received at least four weeks of standard wound care, demonstrated poor healing response, and were subsequently treated with YAG laser. We measure the percent wound area reduction (PWAR) for the 4 weeks prior to initiating laser therapy and the PWAR for 4 weeks following the initiation of laser therapy. YAG laser treatment consisted of two components: debridement and re-surfacing. The laser settings were the same for all treatments. We used pair t-test to compare pre versus post wound area reduction.
Results: During the 4-week period prior to the initiation of laser therapy, the average PWAR was -32.1%. During this time, the diabetic foot ulcers increased in area. After treatment with YAG laser, after 4 weeks the average PWAR was 63.5% (p<0.01), 66.7%% of patients had > 50% PAR at 4 weeks and 45.8% of patients healed by 12 weeks.
Conclusion: YAG laser therapy accelerated DFU healing in a cohort of patients with ulcers that had been unresponsive to standard of care therapy.
M.J. Johnson: None. L.A. Lavery: Consultant; Self; Bayer US, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Medline Industries, Inc. Research Support; Self; Cardinal Health, EO2 Concepts, Integra LifeSciences, MedImmune, Osiris Therapeutics, Inc.
