Surgical scar prevention
Home-based 830 nm LED phototherapy for thyroidectomy scars RCT
Kim, et al. Lasers in Medical Science. 2022.
A double-blind sham-controlled trial found home-based 830 nm LED phototherapy improved several thyroidectomy scar outcomes.
Evidence grade
moderate
Effect direction
positive
Panel relevance
panel-replicable
Key findings
- Treatment began 1 week after surgery and continued for 4 weeks, with follow-up at 1, 3, and 6 months.
- Active LED treatment improved satisfaction and scar scales compared with sham in the reported outcomes.
- No noticeable adverse events were reported.
Protocol details
| Wavelengths | 830 nm |
|---|---|
| Irradiance | Not reported mW/cm2 |
| Fluence | Not reported J/cm2 |
| Session time | Not reported minutes |
| Frequency | Home-based course after surgery |
| Duration | 4 weeks, starting 1 week post-operation |
| Treatment area | Thyroidectomy surgical scar |
| Device type | Home-based 830 nm LED phototherapy device |
Caveats
- The protocol is specific to thyroidectomy scars and post-operative timing.
- Do not apply to open, infected, or poorly healing wounds without clinician clearance.