Defocused CO2 laser on equine skin: a histological examination.
Abstract: No studies have been published on effects of treatment with a defocused beam carbon dioxide (CO2) laser on equine skin histology. A better understanding of this will help to define how lasers should be used, in order to reduce potential side effects. Objective: To describe the acute effects of different doses of defocused CO2 laser, ranging from therapeutic to surgical levels, on equine skin. Methods: Defocused CO2 laser was administered to the skin in the hamstrings (91 J/cm2), fetlock (137 J/cm2) and loin (450 J/cm2) areas of 13 Standardbred horses. The acute effects on skin histology were examined 90 min after the end of therapy. Results: Mild changes with focal spongiosis and subepidermal clefts were found after 91 J/cm2 irradiation and more severe changes with diffuse subepidermal clefts after the 137 J/cm2 dose. A homogeneous eosinophilic acellular zone of dermis and destruction of adnexal structures, and significant thinning of the epidermis was observed after the 450 J/cm2 dose. Conclusions: The present study indicates acute dose-dependent changes in equine skin histology after laser treatment Severe tissue damage was induced using a 450 J/cm2 dose. Conclusions: To reduce the potential side effects of defocused CO2 laser treatment, the laser parameters must be carefully evaluated. Caution should be taken if doses higher than 91 J/cm2 (16 W, 4 min, and 42 cm2) are used in irradiation of equine skin.
Publication Date: 2007-03-24 PubMed ID: 17378439DOI: 10.2746/042516407x164019Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research investigates the impact of defocused carbon dioxide (CO2) laser on the skin of horses, revealing that the severity of skin changes increases with the laser dosage.
Objective
This study aims to evaluate the effects of a defocused CO2 laser on the skin tissue of horses to better understand its side effects and how to minimize them. The researchers assessed the acute effects of different doses of this laser, from therapeutic to surgical levels.
Method
- The experiment involved the exposure of the hamstring, fetlock, and loin areas of the skin of 13 Standardbred horses to a defocused CO2 laser.
- The researchers used varying power measures, also known as doses, of the laser—91 J/cm2 for the hamstrings, 137 J/cm2 for the fetlock, and 450 J/cm2 for the loin area.
- The acute effects on the skin were examined 90 minutes after the end of the therapy, focusing on histological changes. Histology is the study of microscopic structure of tissues.
Results
- At the lowest laser dose of 91 J/cm2, minor changes were observed, including localized spongiosis (skin condition where there is a buildup of fluid in skin cells) and subepidermal clefts (separation in the lower layer of skin).
- Severe changes, such as widespread subepidermal clefts, appeared at an increased laser dose of 137 J/cm2.
- At the highest laser dose of 450 J/cm2, serious skin damage was noted, including a homogeneous eosinophilic acellular zone in the dermis (swelling in the skin layer below the surface), adnexal structures destruction (damages to skin appendages), and significant epidermis thinning (outer skin layer).
Conclusions
- The study highlighted that the skin damage following a laser treatment is dependent on the laser dose, with severe damage noted at a dose of 450 J/cm2.
- Suggestions were made to reduce the risk of these potential side effects by carefully evaluating laser parameters before treatment.
- A note of caution was advised when using doses higher than 91 J/cm2 during the irradiation of equine skin to prevent severe skin damage.
Cite This Article
APA
Bergh A, Ridderstråle Y, Ekman S.
(2007).
Defocused CO2 laser on equine skin: a histological examination.
Equine Vet J, 39(2), 114-119.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516407x164019 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Division of Pathology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE- 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Carbon Dioxide
- Dermatologic Surgical Procedures
- Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
- Female
- Horses / surgery
- Laser Therapy / instrumentation
- Laser Therapy / methods
- Laser Therapy / veterinary
- Lasers / adverse effects
- Male
- Skin / pathology
- Skin / radiation effects
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Millis DL, Bergh A. A Systematic Literature Review of Complementary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine: Laser Therapy. Animals (Basel) 2023 Feb 14;13(4).
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