Effect of Using Photobiomodulation (660 Nanometers) for the Treatment of Diabetic Ulcers: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) result in tissue damage or impairment of deeper structures that affect quality of life. The impacts are numerous, and even after a long treatment period, 65% of patients experience recurrence. Among the interventions used to accelerate the healing process of DFUs, photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) is a painless, noninvasive, and low-cost treatment. To achieve effective therapeutic results optimal PBMT parameters are necessary. The positive effect of PBMT on diabetic cells may be dependent on fluence (J/cm2) and wavelength (nm). This double-blind, randomized clinical trial will be conducted at the University Clinic of Physical Therapy. One hundred patients will be randomly placed in 4 groups. A Laserpulse Ibramed (Helium-Neon, HeNe, 660 nm) with 20 W power will be used (continuous mode), with doses stipulated for each treatment group (GL1, 4 J/cm2; GL2, 8 J/cm2; GL3, 12 J/cm2) and Endophoton KLD GaAs 904 nm (ST, 10 J/cm2) for 2 nonconsecutive days per week for 10 weeks, for a total of 20 sessions. The primary outcomes will be ulcer healing rate and University of Texas classification scores. Patients' DFUs will be assessed on the 1st day, 5 weeks, and 10 weeks of treatment then 1 month after the end of treatment. This study may aid effective clinical decision-making for the management of DFUs.