Assessment Of Infrared Photobiotherapy for Improved Wound Healing

• Acute Traumatic Injury (ATI) patients treated with LLLT will experience a [ Time Frame: baseline (2 weeks after surgery), then 6,12, and 24 weeks from baseline ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Decrease in post-operative pain as measured by the FACES Pain Rating Scale [ Time Frame: baseline (2 weeks after surgery), then 6,12, and 24 weeks from baseline ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Reduction in amount of pain medication needed to control pain [ Time Frame: baseline (2 weeks after surgery), then 6,12, and 24 weeks from baseline ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Improvement in wound healing as measured by serial photographs of wound appearance and rate of wound healing. [ Time Frame: baseline (2 weeks after surgery), then 6,12, and 24 weeks from baseline ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

• Acute Traumatic Injury (ATI) patients treated with LLLT will experience a
• Decrease in post-operative pain as measured by the FACES Pain Rating Scale
• Reduction in amount of pain medication needed to control pain
• Improvement in wound healing as measured by serial photographs of wound appearance and rate of wound healing.

• Additional factors that may influence pain (type of injury, perioperative blood loss, smoking) [ Time Frame: baseline (2 weeks after surgery), then 6,12, and 24 weeks from baseline ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Improvement in Quality of Life as measured by the SF-36 [ Time Frame: baseline (2 weeks after surgery), then 6,12, and 24 weeks from baseline ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

• Additional factors that may influence pain (type of injury, perioperative blood loss, smoking)
• Improvement in Quality of Life as measured by the SF-36

The purpose of this study is to examine whether or not Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) can reduce pain and/or improve wound healing in patients with an acute traumatic injury to the upper extremity (wrist, forearm, or elbow).

This is a prospective, two group, controlled study using random assignment. All eligible patients will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: the control group (usual care) or the experimental group (usual care plus LLLT). We plan to enroll 50 subjects in this study: 25 subjects will be randomly assigned to the LLLT group and 25 to the usual care group.

All subjects will be recruited within one to two days prior to hospital discharge or at the time of their first postoperative clinic visit. No subjects will be recruited while sedated or receiving intravenous pain medication.

• Experimental: 1
  Low Level Laser Therapy
  Intervention: Device: Low Level Laser Therapy
• No Intervention: 2
  No Laser Therapy. Outcome Measures the same.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age > 18 and < 85 years
• Acute traumatic injury of an upper extremity (wrist, forearm, or elbow)
• Currently resides within 100 miles of UMC

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant
• Pacemaker
• Medications that have heat or light-sensitivity contraindications (such as: steroids, some antibiotics)
• Two or more cardiac risk factors
• Intraoperative complications
• Wound infection
• Open Wound