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Updated: Aug 7, 2026
A Pre-clinical Rat Model for the Study of Ischemia-reperfusion Injury in Reconstructive Microsurgery
Published on: November 8, 2019
Experimental model for low level laser therapy on ischemic random skin flap in rats
Rodrigo Paschoal Prado1, Richard Eloin Liebano, Bernardo Hochman
1Post-graduation Program in Plastic Surgery, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Napoleão de Barros, 715/4 andar, 04024-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil. paschoalrp@hotmail.com
Purpose:
To develop an experimental model to be used in the study of low level Laser therapy on viability of random skin flap in rats.
Methods:
The sample was 24 Wistar-EPM rats. The random skin flap measured 10 x 4 cm and a plastic sheet was interposed between the flap and donor site. Group 1 (control) underwent sham irradiation with diode laser (830 nm). Group 2 was submitted to laser irradiation with diode laser (830 nm). The animals were submitted to Laser therapy with 36 J/cm(2) energy density (72 seconds) immediately after the surgery and on the four subsequent days. The probe was usually held in contact with the skin flap surface on a point at 2.5 cm cranial from the flap base. On the seventh postoperative day, the percentage of necrotic area was measured and calculated.
Results:
Group 1 reached an average necrotic area of 48.86%, Group 2 - 23.14%. After the statistic analysis, compared with the control group, Group 2 showed a statistically significant increase in survival area (p<0.001).
Conclusion:
The experimental model proved to be reliable to be used in the study of effects of low level laser therapy in random skin flap in rats.
