Low Level Laser Therapy in Treatment of Neurosensory Deficit Following Surgical Procedures

摘要

In this report of clinical cases of peripheral nerve lesions, we evaluate the efficacy of the diode laser in treating six patients -three female and three male, age ranging from 25 to 36 years - who presented tongue paresthesia after surgical procedures which demanded regional mandible anaesthetic blockade. The patients' presented symptomatology was the absence of gustative sensitivity, the decrease of sensitivity and the increase of the nociceptive threshold on the affected side of the tongue. The treatment was carried out with a diode laser of 50mW, 780nm, continuous wave emission, spot size 3mm, and total dosage of 18 joules per session. We used a verbal scale to measure the intensity of the sensitive response both before and after treatment. The treatment module comprised two weekly sessions over a period of five consecutive weeks. After evaluation of the symptom condition, the patient would undergo another treatment module if necessary. This method of treatment proved to be efficient, resulting in restored sensitivity in all six treated patients. Only one patient reported a residual abnormality sensation concerning the tongue dimension but no discomfort at all. All 6 treated patients were evaluated in a follow-up period of thirty, sixty and ninety days post-treatment.