Photobiomodulation Therapy in Burn Wound Healing: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Preclinical Studies

To determine the effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) in the burn wound healing compared with the control or with the use of antibiotics, in animal models. A systematic search was conducted in EMBASE, MEDLINE, and LILACS databases. Preclinical studies were included that analyzed the effectiveness of PBMT in the burn wound healing, which assessed wound contraction, angiogenesis, proliferation of fibroblasts, and collagen deposition. SYRCLE risk of bias tool was used. Random effects models were used to estimate the pooled effect. Thirty-eight studies were included. PBMT favored wound contraction (mean difference = -11.47, 95% confidence interval -19.87 to -3.08, I² = 0%; moderate certainty of evidence). PBMT also favored angiogenesis at doses between 11 and 20 J/cm², and increased the collagenization rate. In animal models, PBMT favored wound contraction, angiogenesis, and collagen deposition in second- and third-degree burn wounds.