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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Effect of infrared and red monochromatic light on equine wou...
Equine veterinary journal2020; 53(1); 143-148; doi: 10.1111/evj.13266

Effect of infrared and red monochromatic light on equine wound healing.

Abstract: Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are commonly used for treating a variety of disorders in horses, including wounds. Despite its claim to shorten healing times, there is a lack of scientific documentation regarding its effects. Objective: To investigate if treatment with pulsating visible red light (λ ≈ 637 nm) and near-infrared (NIR) light (λ ≈ 956 nm) affects wound healing. Methods: Randomised blinded controlled experimental study. Methods: A circular skin wound (Ø = 2 cm) was created on each side of the neck in eight healthy horses. One randomly chosen wound received light treatment and the other served as an untreated control. Treatment duration was 4 minutes and 40 seconds (red light 95 seconds, 2.3 mW/cm2 ; NIR light 185 seconds, 6.4 mW/cm2 ) and was performed once daily on day 0-4, 7-11, 14-18 and 21-25. The wounds were photographed and evaluated using digital photoplanimetry on day 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35. The degree of swelling was assessed with diagnostic ultrasound on the same days except the last recording was performed on day 36 instead of 35. Days to total healing was recorded. ANOVA was used for statistical analysis (P < .05). Results: The wound area (P = .2-.9) and degree of swelling (P = .2-1.0) did not differ between treated and control groups on any day. There was a significant difference (P = .03) in healing time between control (49.0, 95% CI = 35.4-62.6 days) and treated wounds (51.8, 95% CI = 38.7-64.8 days). Conclusions: The wounds were treated until day 25 and this study does not investigate the effect of a longer treatment period than 25 days. Conclusions: The results of this study do not indicate any clinically relevant positive effect of pulsating visible red light and NIR light on the healing of experimental skin wounds in horses, compared with no treatment.
© 2020 The Authors. Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2020-04-24 PubMed ID: 32285517DOI: 10.1111/evj.13266Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Veterinary

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research investigates whether the treatment of pulsating red light and near-infrared light impacts the healing of wounds in horses, concluding that the effects of such treatment are not statistically significant.

Research Objectives

  • The researchers sought to explore the effectiveness of using pulsating visible red light and near-infrared light in healing wounds on horses.
  • Given that light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are often used to treat a variety of ailments in horses, including wounds, the researchers wanted to understand whether this method of treatment has scientifically documentable effects.

Research Methods

  • In the experiment, circular skin wounds were created on the necks of eight healthy horses. One wound on each horse was randomly selected to receive the light treatment, while the other wound served as an untreated control.
  • Each light treatment session lasted for a total of 4 minutes and 40 seconds. The red light was applied for 95 seconds at 2.3 mW/cm, and the near-infrared light was applied for 185 seconds at 6.4 mW/cm.
  • The treatment was administered once a day on specific days: 0-4, 7-11, 14-18, and 21-25.
  • The wounds were photographed and evaluated using digital photoplanimetry on various days during the 35-day period.
  • Swelling was assessed with ultrasound on the same days, except the recording was conducted on day 36 instead of 35.
  • The total days required for healing was recorded and an ANOVA was used for statistical analysis, with a significance level set at P < .05.

Results of the Study

  • The research found no significant difference in either the wound area or the degree of swelling between the control and treated groups at any given point of the study.
  • There was a statistically significant variation in the healing time between the control and treated wounds, however, it is worth noting that the treated wounds took a slightly longer time to heal compared to the untreated wounds.
  • The findings from this study, therefore, suggest that using pulsating red light and near-infrared light does not have any significantly positive effect on the healing of skin wounds in horses when compared with no treatment.

Conclusions

  • The implication of the study is that while LEDs are commonly used for therapeutic purposes in horses, in this particular case, they do not appear to significantly hasten the wound healing process.

Cite This Article

APA
Michanek P, Toth T, Bergström E, Treffenberg-Pettersson H, Bergh A. (2020). Effect of infrared and red monochromatic light on equine wound healing. Equine Vet J, 53(1), 143-148. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13266

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 53
Issue: 1
Pages: 143-148

Researcher Affiliations

Michanek, Peter
  • Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Toth, Tamás
  • University Animal Hospital, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Bergström, Evelina
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Treffenberg-Pettersson, Helena
  • University Animal Hospital, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Bergh, Anna
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses / injuries
  • Light
  • Phototherapy / veterinary
  • Skin
  • Wound Healing

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This article includes 28 references
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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Ribeiro G, Carvalho L, Borges J, Prazeres J. The Best Protocol to Treat Equine Skin Wounds by Second Intention Healing: A Scoping Review of the Literature. Animals (Basel) 2024 May 18;14(10).
    doi: 10.3390/ani14101500pubmed: 38791717google scholar: lookup
  2. Orzołek A, Rafalska KT, Domosławska-Wyderska A, Rafalska AM, Dziekońska A, Jastrzębska E, Dobbek D. The effect of solarium light therapy on selected biological and biochemical parameters of peripheral blood in young and old horses. PLoS One 2024;19(5):e0304290.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304290pubmed: 38787841google scholar: lookup
  3. Bao MZ, Zhou LB, Zhao L, Zhang H, Li Y, Yang L, Tai AT. Efficacy of lidocaine wet compress combined with red-light irradiation for chronic wounds. World J Clin Cases 2023 Oct 26;11(30):7277-7283.
    doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v11.i30.7277pubmed: 37969445google scholar: lookup
  4. Hoisang S, Kampa N, Seesupa S, Jitpean S. Assessment of wound area reduction on chronic wounds in dogs with photobiomodulation therapy: A randomized controlled clinical trial. Vet World 2021 Aug;14(8):2251-2259.
    doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2021.2251-2259pubmed: 34566346google scholar: lookup
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