Introduction

Pressure injuries occur as a result of pressure applied to the skin over a prolonged period of time and immobilization. This type of injury represents one of the main public health problems at present, as it reaches worrying rates and avoidable deaths. The objective of this study was to study the efficacy of laser therapy in the healing process of pressure injuries.

Materials and Methods

This was a systematic review of the literature in the SCIELO, LILACS, and PUBMED databases as well as in the Virtual Library of Grade and Thesis Papers of the University of São Paulo between 2001 and 2017, in Portuguese and English, using the following descriptors: Laser Therapy, Low Power Laser, Pressure Ulcer, Pressure Injury.

Results

Eleven scientific articles were selected, of which the most effective in the treatment of pressure injuries were the doses of 4 J/cm2 with a wavelength of 658 nm.

Discussion

Some studies have shown the effectiveness of low frequency laser in healing pressure injuries. The technique of laser application varies according to the characteristics of the injuries, considering the appearance of the area and, mainly, its dimension.

Conclusions

Emphasis is placed on the need for nurses to be well trained to treat pressure injuries with laser therapy, as low-power laser therapy represents a promising treatment for accelerating the healing of skin injuries.

        · abstract in Portuguese | Spanish     · text in Portuguese     · Portuguese ( pdf )