International Journal of Gastrointestinal Intervention (Oct 2024)

The effect of low-level laser therapy on external anal sphincter repair and treatment of fecal incontinence: A double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial

  • Mahmoud Yousefifard,
  • Farnad Imani,
  • Bahar Mahjoubi,
  • Jebreil Shamseddin,
  • Shahriar Sarveazad,
  • Mohammadhossein Vazirizadeh-Mahabadi,
  • Mobina Yarahmadi,
  • Arash Sarveazad

DOI
https://doi.org/10.18528/ijgii240062
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 4
pp. 114 – 121

Abstract

Read online

Background : Fecal incontinence (FI) results from damage to the external anal sphincter (EAS), significantly affecting quality of life. This clinical trial evaluated the impact of low-level laser (LLL) therapy on EAS repair and the treatment of FI. Methods : Thirty FI patients with EAS deficiency were divided into two groups (n = 15): a control group receiving sphincteroplasty alone and a laser group undergoing sphincteroplasty plus laser therapy. Following surgery, the laser group received daily laser therapy for 2 weeks. Outcomes were assessed using Wexner scores, electromyography (EMG), and endorectal sonography. Results : The laser group exhibited a significant increase in muscle bulk (P = 0.008) and a lower Wexner index (P < 0.0001) compared to the control group. EMG confirmed muscle contractility in the laser group. Conclusions: Two weeks of LLL therapy effectively increased muscle at the EAS injury site, leading to significant, lasting improvements in FI.

Keywords