Summary
In this study the effect of laseracupuncture in prevention of post operative complications is documented by a lot of scientific investigations. The results of the most important investigations of laseracupuncture in intra and post operative fields are summarized and the findings of a long-standing own experience in this fields are reported.
Key-words: Laseracupuncture, Veterinary-medicine, postoperative treatment
Introduction
In post operative fields often complications take place in primary
infected wounds following injuries and by intra operative hospital infection.
In many cases these infections prevent operation success and often worsen
the pre operative state of the patient. Laseracupuncture is introduced
as a helpful treatment to avoid and to treat these complications.
Why laser -acupuncture?
Laser -acupuncture is a very effective combination of two treatments
which are very effective each of its own especially in wound healing.
Laserradiation as a proper method to accelerate wound healing is first
described by Mester in early 1969 and will be explained as local
treatment in the further lecture (Petermann U. 1998). Acupuncture is setting
the kybernetic regulation in motion again not only for the local affected
area but also for the whole body by regulate Chi- flow what is mostly stagnated
or disturbed in wounds coming from accidents or operation, because of interruption
of tissue. Or in western sight it restores disturbed vegetative regulation,
what is the reason for long standing pain, inflammation, poor blood circulation,
muscle contraction as we know from segment regulation complex by Bergsmann
and Eder (1977). As ultimately all body functions, from coughing to the
repair and healing of wounds, are controlled by such vegetative, nervous
and hormonal regulation, it is easy to understand that acupuncture can
have such a regulatory effect in attacking so many types of disease.
Physiological basis of laser effects
Research by Popp (1984) which established that biophotons play a fundamental
role in cell communication by means of so-called "ultra-weak cell radiation"
is one of the most important pieces of primary research into laser effects.
This involves coherent, in other words, laser light. The DNA in the cell
nucleus can be established as the source of the radiation. Warnke (1987)
has specifically made exploratory studies of the infra-red laser. According
to these absorption is by means of a so-called "antenna pigment" in the
flavoprotein-metal-redox system, exspecially the FMN sulphur- iron- system
in the first complex of the respiratory chain within the mitochondria.
Here, absorbed laser photons are transformed directly into cellular energy.
Phosphorilation from ADP to ATP increases up to 150% measured in standardized
yeast- cell- cultures. Nearly the same photobiological effect is described
by Karu (1987) and Smith (1991). This is particularly beneficial for unhealthy
cells, cells in tissue modified by illness and cells working in wound repair,
which have a particularly high energy requirement to perform their functions.
The laser may play a decisive role by providing the necessary energy. Equally,
an intense energy pulse in the nerve cells of the acupuncture points can
lead to hyperpolarisation and thus to unblocking of irritations; whereby
the demonstrable pain reduction can be attributed to the laser as well
as it stimulates acupuncture points in the same way as needles. The healing
of wounds and repair of damaged ligaments are processes requiring high
energy inputs. With laser light, the energy required for the breakdown
of waste building blocks and the synthesis of new building blocks for wound
closure can be provided more quickly and ligament or wound repair accelerated.
These processes are very helpfull in postoperatic wound healing as well.
Important investigations have been made by the pioneer of LLLT, E. Mester,
on this topic, which demonstrated as early as 1969, that the proliferation
of collagen threads and a marked increase in cell activity after 1-3 laser
irradiation of wounds. The results justify the assumption that even in
the area not directly irradiated, healing is significantly improved due
to the increased diffusion of bioactive substances. In the meantime hundreds
of scientific publications verify the effects of LLLT. I would like to
select some investigations about confirmed laser therapeutic- and laseracupuncture
-effects in human wound healing:
1.) wound healing (Mester E. et al. 1969)
2.) improved capillary circulation in micro circulatory conditions
(Skobelkin O.
K. et al. 1990)
3.) in infected abdominal wounds after surgery (Palmgren N. et al.
1991)
4.) skin-transplant surgery and plastic surgery (Ginsbach G.
1990)
5.) regeneration of nerve lesions and inhibited nervous functioning.
(Midamba
E.D. 1993, Rochkind S. 1988)
6.) tissue metabolism (Abergel P. et al. 1984)
7.) intra operative use in spinal cord operation (Rochkind S. 1991)
8.) in haemorrhagic effects on synovial membrane (Calderhead
R.G. et al.
1992)
It was also established that the rate of increase was dependent on the
pulse frequency of the laser radiation, the wavelength of the laser light
used and the irradiation dosage (Fig. 2). Several investigations confirm
a relation between dosage and effect to the extent that too small irradiation
dosages have no positive effect, but then with increasing dosages an increased
effect up to a maximum can be achieved. If the dosage is increased further,
the stimulating effect is reduced until the previous, non-irradiated condition
is reached again. Further studies show that a negative, destructive effect
cannot be demonstrated, even with prolonged irradiation (30 minutes).
In the following I will introduce some investigations about lasertherapy
and laseracupuncture supporting operations, accelerating wound healing
and treating post operative complications especially made in veterinary
medicine:
1.) Lasertherapy in treating equine injuries (Kerns T. 1986)
2.) Lasertherapy in general (Basko I. 1983)
3.) Laser- effects in soft tissue in veterinary medicine (Lloyd et
al. 1991)
4.) A study of the effects of lasering on chronic bowed tendons. (McKibbin
L. and Paraschak D. 1983)
5.) Laseracupuncture in postoperative infected tendovaginitis and joints
in horses. (Petermann 1999)
Despite these intensive studies, the optimal laser power to be used
for therapy and the length of treatment can still not be clearly established,
since there is naturally a considerable difference between the shaved skin
of the laboratory rat and the hairy skin of a dog or horse. On the basis
of my own experience, one can presume an optimal effect on surface structures
in veterinary medicine for laser output of 50-100 mW (continuous beam)
or 50 - 100 W peak pulse power (pulse lasers) over an irradiation time
of approx. 20 - 40 sec. For deeper structures, articular cartilage in post
minimal invasive surgery, ligaments, fistulae, post or intra operative
radiation of deeper wounds, the treatment duration must be increased to
approx. 2-3 min. per point.
A very important theme we have to speak about ist not only energy input
into tissue by laser but also Impulse frequencies in Pulse-lasers and modulated
frequencies in cw- lasers. When these laser- frequencies (not wavelength
or frequency of the laser light) are in resonance with the radiated structures
of the body, we have very much better results than with every other frequency,
what is not in resonance. This is common knowledge of day to day use for
more than 20000 doctors which are members of the European Academy for Acupuncture
and Auricular- Medicine and the members of the French Nogier- school, which
use the Bahr- and Nogier- frequencies.
The foregoing summary of the current state of knowledge in laseracupuncture
in post operatic fields shows unambiguously that the laser may be used
effectively for the re establishing of traumatised tissue as well as for
acupuncture treatment. Optimal post operative treatment for individual
patients thus involves local laser irradiation in combination with appropriate
acupuncture points. The points which are suggested in the following are
very helpfull but can only be meant as cook- book -points and of course
should be complemented by individually indicated points.
Healing of wounds
The most simple but nevertheless very effective indication for laseracupuncture
is the encouragement of wound healing after trauma or operations, in particular
when a rapid resilience of the wound closure should be achieved or the
wound is located in an area which is difficult to immobilise, such as joints.
Even in many cases of infected wounds, where normally long-term drainage
would be required after surgical intervention, per primam healing can often
be expected after laseracupuncture and suture dehiscence can be avoided.
With wounds with larger loss of skin surface or after the removal of larger
areas of hypergranulation tissue wound closure normally occurs very quickly
and without complications. Laseracupuncture proved effective in the following
trauma-related inflammatory conditions: acute distortion, capsule tearing,
pulled muscles and haematoma. All these conditions we find normally after
operations.
Following acupuncturepointsare indicated in general: Liv 3,
Sp 2 and of course the ting -point of the affected channel.
Primary or secondary infected wounds
Even when wound inflamation has taken place in primary or also secondary
infected wounds the treatment is also very effective in acute and chronic
inflammation of the pastern and of acute and chronic infected tendovagintis
and joints. A markedly more rapid and complete reduction of accompanying
tissue swelling and other symptoms of inflammation such as pain and heat
also occurs.
As one sees laseracupuncture is also exceptionally useful in infectious
local inflammations. In very many cases of post operative phlegmonic processes,
e.g. from wound infection, can be cured when previous treatment with antibiotics
have proved ineffective and, much easier, can be avoided when carried out
before infection had taken place . Laser irradiation also has an outstanding
effect on the maturation and demarcation of suppurative tissue. Purulent,
acute and chronic sinusitis in dogs and even in horses can usually be effectively
treated with laseracupuncture, after tooth extraction or trepanation of
the maxillar sinus, whereby normaly when laseracupuncture has been done
first, the affected tooth mostly does not have to be extracted and the
maxillary sinus does not have to be trepanned. With fistula formation and
disturbance to the wound demarcation and above all for deep wounds, laseracupuncture
is to be highly recommended. There have even been cases of old scars in
which the demarcation had clearly not been closed, opening again after
1-2 laser treatments, cleaning themselves and finally closing up again.
Lastly, I would like to cite the highly effective option of treating infected
joint and tendon sheath inflammations. At commensurate cost, in most cases
excellent treatment success can be expected here. Two of these patients
I will introduce as case studies in the further lecture.
When the wound before or while operation has become infected You need
for demarcation: 3H5, Sp 4, Gb 41, Ki3 .
Eye conditions
With regard to eye conditions laseracupuncure is indicated to avoid
postoperative complications after eye surgery as corneal injuries, ulcus
corneae, and panophthalmia. In the eye laser irradiation is to apply strictly
tangential to avoid retina irritation..
Acupuncturepoints are St 1, 3H 23, Bl 1. Liv 3, Sp 2 and
Gb1. In panophthalmia You can complete with Gb 41 and 3H 5.
Castration wounds
After castration above all in stallions laseracupuncture is a very
good method to prevent secretion congestion and inflammation with
big swellings of the scrotum.
Intra operative radiation with frequency b from Nogier is to combine
with acupuncturepoints B l23 and CV 3. When the wound is still infected
You can apply local radiation with frequency A from Nogier and give Ki3
and 3H5.
Postoperative prevention in disturbing foci
At last I we have to speak about a very important preventive therapy
after operation. I mean therapy of disturbing foci as scars. I know it
is not really excepted by the whole scientific community, but I saw in
much more than thousand cases how it immediately can work in chronic pain
and allergy e.g. To take care for these problems laseracupuncture
can set demarcation of tissue in motion and prevent the wound becoming
a disturbing focus. You also can treat old scars what have already been
established as disturbing focus with local fr. A and Ki 3 and 3H 5.
Patients of this study
All patients of this study had very serious problems with infections
after operations, which have had not been cured by normal treatment for
a long standing time. One infection in the shoulder joint of a horse was
caused by a sharp wooden post which had broken through. Post operative
drainage and douche could not stop secretion, suppuration and suture dehiscence.
In another patient a postoperative infected tarsitis followed a chip operation
(in a clinically completely healthy horse), and in another one a postoperative
infection of the digital synovial sheath of the fetlock resulted following
an operation on the palmar annular ligament of the fetlock. Four stallions
had fistulas of the funiculus testis and chronic swellings with lameness
after castration. One dog and one horse had persistent purulent sinusitis
after trepanation and tooth- extraction. One dog had a fistula and extreme
lameness after 3 operations from elbow- osteochondrosis dissecans. One
horse had extreme pain in the operation- area after kissing spines-operation
for several month. One horse developed a necrotic laminitis of both hindlegs
after castration.
Prior to the start of laser acupuncture treatment, all of the patients
had exhausted all conventional medical therapies over a longer period of
time, some of them in several clinics. The prognosis in most cases was
either unfavourable or it had been suggested that the animal should be
put to sleep. All of the animals were given anywhere from 9 to 20 laseracupuncture-
treatments with individually selected acupuncture points. Treatment was
carried out with an impulse laser (60 watts and 90 watts pulse peak power,
200 nsec pulse width, from Reimers und Janssen, Berlin). Following laseracupuncture
all of the patients had succeeded in getting a very much better state and
after a reconvalescence period it was possible to work again with all of
the horses.
Case study 1
A chip in the right ankle joint was noticed during a preventive X-ray
examination of a two-year-old crossbred stallion. Following an endoscopic
removal of the fragment, an infectious tarsitis developed. This was first
treated by the clinic where the operation had taken place. Intensive
treatment followed at three other clinics. 6 months after the operation,
I examined the horse. The horse did not set the diseased limb down and
only with great effort could it move forward with three legs. The circumference
of the joint was 61 cm (a normal tarsal joint measures 42 cm). (Picture
. 1 + 2). After fourteen days or seven treatments, the circumference of
the joint had been reduced to 47 cm, and the horse could be walked and
also be exercised at a trot (Picture 3 + 4)for about 5 minutes. After trotting
for approximately one minute, the horse was able to move without a limp.
After the third day of exercise, a new feverish inflammation of the joint
appeared spontaneously, with over 41°C body temperature and pronounced
swelling of the joint. During the acute phase, the inflammation was treated
with antibiotics (parenteral and not intra-articular). After approximately
four weeks with twelve additional treatments, the patient was released
and gradually began training to full capacity at home in the following
3 month.
Case study 2
Following a routine endoscopy of the digital synovial sheath
of the fetlock in a six-year-old crossbred gelding, which took place within
the scope of an operation on the palmar annular ligament of the fetlock,
the healing of the wound was disturbed by a continuous discharge of synovia.
Despite intensive therapy by the clinic where the operation had been performed,
there was at first an infection of the tendon sheath and a necrotizing
inflammation in the area where the operation took place. Six weeks after
the operation, the clinic decided to suggest euthanasia to the owner, as
continued deterioration of
the horse's condition seemed definite and the infection of the tendon
sheath could not be controlled. However, the owner decided to try acupuncture
treatment for the horse, a decision which was strongly opposed by the clinic.
These were the findings: approximately 6 to 2 cm sized area of wounds with
escaping synovia and a necrotic centre. (Picture 5). A brisk walk was indeed
possible, but only with a high degree of lameness. The foot was set down
only at the tip of the toe. Due to the adhesions of the tendon sheath,
it was not possible to use the fetlock joint to press down. The circumference
of the fetlock joint was 49 cm (a healthy joint measures 43 cm). After
two treatments (two days, see Picture 6), no further secretion from the
tendon sheath could be determined. A marked necrotic area of approx. the
size of 1 cm diameter was considerably reduced (circumference still
46 cm). After five days (five treatments), the wound was completely dry
and had shrunk to half its original size. After ten days the wound had
almost completely closed (Picture 7); there was now only a slight lameness
when walking, which gradually disappeared. Even in trotting, only a slight
to medium limp was noted. After a total of fourteen days of treatment,
the patient was released, where it was receiving additional daily laseracupuncture
treatments on scissors -marked points from its owner. The horse is gradually
increasing its walking and trotting in order to further loosen the adhesions
and to continue reducing the tendon's contraction.
Case study 3
A 3 year old gelding had a very serious post operative fistulation
of the funiculus testis with a durable big swelling and stiffness of the
hind limb. After 3 month period of therapy with several antibiotics by
two different clinics and a second operation the gelding had a serious
lost of weight and the fistulation had not been stoped. A therapy
with laseracupuncture followed. 7 treatments with 5 minutes local laser-radiation
frequency A from Nogier of the funiculus and laseracupuncture of the points
Bl 23, Ki3, 3H5 and Sp 4 were carried out with an interim of 3- 4 days.
At the end of the therapy the fistula had been closed and the stiffness
of the hind limb had dissapeared.
Case study4
A 5 -year old Collie had got 3 re-operations after a osteochondrosois
dissecans operation in the left elbow joint, because of fistulation of
the wound. In spite of this and permanent treatment with antibiotics and
anti -inflamatory drugs, drainage and douches, now, more than 1 year after
the first operation the dog had still fistulation and very serious pain,
without any function of this leg. 4 sessions with laseracupuncture with
an interim of one week were carried out. Between the sessions the dog got
daily local laser -radiation on the fistula and the elbow joint by ist
owner for 15-20 minutes. The acupuncture was carried out as follows: locus
dolendi treatment of the fistula (frequency A) and the shoulder joint (frequency
C from Nogier)with 50 Watt impulse -laser. Acupuncture points were found
by controlled acupuncture: Li1, Sp2, Ki3, 3H5, Bl11, Gb41. Not any other
treatment was done during acupuncture. When the dog came to the 4th treatment,
the fistula had closed and the leg was in function again, but with a rest
of lameness. The rest of the lameness disappeared in the next 4 weeks without
further treatment.
Case study 5
A 9 year aged dachshund had had a sinusitis maxillaris with evil stinking
green pus coming out of the nose. In the time before he came to acupuncture
a long standing therapy was applied and at its end two molars had been
extracted to overcome the chronic purulent sinusitis, but nothing happened
until 2 month after extraction when acupuncture was started. 3 treatments
with laseracupuncture were carried out. Local treatment of the operation
area (tooth extraction) with frequency A and the sinusitis area (frequency
7 from Bahr) was combined with acupuncture of Ki3 and 3H5 (both frequency
5 from Bahr). When the dog came to 2nd acupuncture treatment one
week later the purulent secretion had nearly stopped and the extraction
wound stated to heal. One week later, before the third acupuncture session
there was no more pus coming out of the nose and no more sneezing, the
dog had very much better appetite and was in good state.
Case study 6
A very good competition horse (jumper) had had a very serious pain
still 10 weeks after kissing spine -operation on th7/th8. The pain was
so hard, that the horse was extremely anxious to be touched in the operated
area, when it came for acupuncture. The operation wound had closed and
showed no sign of inflammation. As the previous treatment antiphlogistics,
cortisone and for 2 weeks antibiotics had been given. The very valuable
horse was discussed to be put down. The following acupuncture treatment
was carried out: local treatment of th7/th8 with frequency A (anti inflammatory
frequency) and frequency E (frequency for the spinal cord). With RAC/VAS-
control Gb41 (prostaglandinE1-point) and 3H5 (corresponding cardinal- point
to Gb41 and thymus -point of the ear-acupuncture and so main -point against
chronic inflammation). Emediately after the first treatment the pain in
the operation field had completely disappeared, even when strong pressure
was applied. 5 treatments, one a week, were necessary for complete restoring
of the horse. After the 2nd treatment the horse could be started
with training and after 8 weeks was placed in a ?S? (difficult) jumping
tournement.
Case study 7
An 8 year old Arabian stallion got 3 days after castration a serious
necrotic laminitis on both hind legs by nearly completely stagnation of
liver and kidney energy -flow. He came to me nearly standing only on his
front legs. In spite of the very hard pain and the very bad prognosis we
wanted to give him a chance for two days. We decided to put him to sleep,
when pain did not get better after this time. Because of his very bad conditions
of the liver and the 3 day former given narcosis we tried to remove the
hoof -horn with nerve block and neurolept- analgesia. A complete
digital nerve anaesthesia was not able to remove the pain. Even fibularis-
and tibularis- nerve anaesthesia had no good result. After surgery we saw
large areas of necrotic laminitis on both hoofs (picture 8 and 9)). The
daily treatment was local laser radiation of the hoof and the castration
wound with fr. A from Nogier. We made daily new bandages with mild antiseptic
fluids with homeopathic dilution of Calendula, Echinacea and Arnika .
Acupuncturepoints found by RAC were given all 2 days: Bl 23, Bl 18, Liv
13, CV 3(area), Liv 3 as tonifiing point and Ki 3 as source point. Two
days later we considered a clear reduction of pain and after further 2
days we saw a very good demarkation of the necrotic areas (pictur 10 and
11). After 3 weeks we had completely closed dry hoof horn and gave him
back home to his owners. 1 month later he jumped over his pastern fence
and made an excursion into the near wood.
Discussion
In all the patients, it could be seen that laser acupuncture had a
rapid influence on demarcation and inflammation. On the other hand, restitution
of the degenerative consequences of the inflammation, including adhesions,
defects in the cartilage and similar problems presented considerably greater
difficulty and required far more time. Nonetheless, healing was achieved
in all cases. These cases clearly demonstrate how it is possible to expand
the limits of therapy with the help of laser acupuncture. There should
also be said, that many operations can be avoided, if acupuncture would
be tried as therapy before (without castration). Anyway, laseracupuncture
is shown as a very good method to reduce post operative pain and to accelerate
wound healing. And also in many cases, when operation has not hat the beneficial
effect what was intended because of complications after operation. But
even in such cases, when operation has worsened the former state of the
patient, laseracupuncture is a possible way to help in many of them.
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