Efficacy of Laser Photobiomodulation on Morphological and Functional Repair of the Facial Nerve

Objective: Evaluate the efficacy of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on qualitative, quantitative, and functional aspects in the facial nerve regeneration process. Materials and methods: Forty-two male Wistar rats were used, randomly divided into a control group (CG; n = 10), in which the facial nerve without lesion was collected, and four experimental groups: (1) suture experimental group (SEG) and (2) fibrin experimental group (FEG), consisting of 16 animals in which the buccal branch of the facial nerve was sectioned on both sides of the face; an end-to-end epineural suture was performed on the right side, and a fibrin sealant was used on the left side for coaptation of the stumps; and (3) laser suture experimental group (LSEG) and (4) laser fibrin experimental group (LFEG), consisting of 16 animals that underwent the same surgical procedures as SEG and FEG with the addition of laser application at three different points along the surgical site (pulsed laser of 830 nm wavelength, optical output power of 30 mW, power density of 0.2586 W/cm(2), energy density of 6.2 J/cm(2), beam area of 0.116 cm(2), exposure time of 24 sec per point, total energy per session of 2.16 J, and cumulative dose of 34.56 J). The animals were submitted to functional analysis (subjective observation of whisker movement) and the data obtained were compared using Fisher's exact test. Euthanasia was performed at 5 and 10 weeks postoperative. The total number and density of regenerated axons were analyzed using the unpaired t-test (p < 0.05). Results: Laser therapy resulted in a significant increase in the number and density of regenerated axons. The LSEG and LFEG presented better scores in functional analysis in comparison with the SEG and FEG. Conclusions: LLLT enhanced axonal regeneration and accelerated functional recovery of the whiskers, and both repair techniques allowed the growth of axons.