Published: Lasers in Surgery and Medicine. 2014; 46(1): 34-45. doi: 10.1002/lsm.22212
Keyword: immunolabeling; light therapy; motor end plates; peripheral nerve injury; photobiomodulation; regeneration; re-innervation; toe spread reflex
Author(s): "Anders JJ, Moges H, Wu X, Erbele ID, Alberico SL, Saidu EK, Smith JT, Pryor BA"
Treatment parameters of infra-red laser (810 nm and 980 nm) were optimized for injured peripheral nerves in vitro using primary human fibroblasts and primary rat cortical neurons. White New Zealand rabbits were used to then translate the parameters to in vivo transcutaneous studies. The results of this study demonstrate that treatment parameters can be determined initially using in vitro models and then translated to in vivo research and clinical practice. Infrared light with optimized parameters promotes accelerated nerve regeneration and improved functional recovery in a surgically repaired peripheral nerve.