Validação de um protótipo fotobiomodulador para tratamento de traumas mamilares

Abstract

Breastfeeding provides the optimum feed for the growth of a child. However, there are complications that hinder the success of the practice of breastfeeding, like nipple trauma. It is characterized by the presence of cracks, fissures and abrasions, as well as intense pain. The therapeutic approach includes orientation, dry treatment and wet treatment. However, none of these interventions provides satisfactory results. A new and promising alternative is low intensity phototherapy with LEDs. The aim of this work was to verify the efficacy of a prototype for phototherapy consisting of LEDs in the near infrared spectral range for thetreatment of nipple trauma. This is a randomized clinical trial and double-blind study. Ten participants with 19 nipple lesions (cracks, fissures and abrasions) were divided into two groups: experimental and control. The experimental group was submitted to standardtreatment (orientations on correct breastfeeding technique and nipple care) and prototype for phototherapy applications, while the control group received standard treatment and placebo prototype applications. Participants were subjected to phototherapy twice a week for eightsessions, and the prototype parameters were: wavelength of 860 nm, pulsed mode, frequency of 100 Hz, fluency rate of 50 mW/cm2 and fluency of 4 J/cm2 for 79 seconds. The nipple lesion area was measured by an image analysis software, and the pain intensity was measuredby the Numeric Visual Scale. The analysis showed a statistically significant reduction in the area of the nipple lesions of both experimental and control groups (p=0,00) and, also, a significant difference between them (p=0,00). In the first sessions of the intervention, therewas an acceleration of the healing process of the nipple lesions in the experimental group when compared to the control group. Pain intensity decreased in both groups with the increase in the number of sessions, but was statistically significant only for the experimental group(p=0,00). Moreover, a significant difference between groups (p=0,03) was observed for pain reduction. The results of this study showed that the prototype for phototherapy with LEDs in the near infrared spectral range was an effective tool in treatment of nipple trauma.