MLS® Laser Therapy Case Study
Conservative Treatment of Multiple Pelvic Fractures
Species: Dog
Breed: Dachsund
Gender: Female
Age: 1 Year Old
Name: Rachel
Clinical Report
Rachel, a 1 year old Dachshund, was hit by a car and suffered multiple pelvic fractures; the owners decided not to perform surgeries on the dog, and preferred a conservative treatment approach. Following traditional pharmacological pain management, Rachel was referred to start a MLS® Laser Therapy treatment cycle aiming at callus formation stimulation on the pelvic fractures, hoping on a gradual recovery of her normal lifestyle.
X-rays taken three weeks after the accident showed fractures on both sides ileum, pubis and left acetabulum.
During the first visit, Rachel’s static evaluation showed an antalgic kyphotic stance and critical asymmetries due to the biomechanical imbalance mainly caused by those multiple acetabulum fractures.
Rachel’s reaction to paraspinal palpation was very painful, she could only move a few steps, and struggled to relieve herself.
Therapy
MLS Laser Therapy sessions started twice a week, mainly aiming at pain control in the lumbar-sacral and sacral-iliac paraspinal areas (scans with “acute pain” program), followed by the application of a specific protocol studied in order to encourage bone callus formation on the main fracture sites (point treatment, using increasing frequencies from 1 Hz to 73 Hz).
During the second week of treatment, Rachel didn’t show her kyphotic stance anymore, and, if prompted, she moved a couple steps on a non-slippery surface, but she still didn’t move the tail. After the fourth session, Rachel walked a couple steps out of the carpet, and happily wagged her tail walking towards her owner.
Due to the progressive improvement of Rachel’s psycho-physical condition, MLS® Laser Therapy sessions turned into weekly applications starting from the fourth week of treatment, and from the seventh session the applications focused only on fractures sites.
One month after treatment started, an X-ray exam was performed, which showed encouraging signs of bone callus formation on pubic and right iliac fractures.
Weekly treatments have been further applied, using frequency of 73 Hz on fracture sites and on newly-formed bone calluses.
Results
An x-ray exam performed two months after MLS sessions started, confirmed stabilization of fracture sites that started forming bone callus, and static evaluation of the pelvis looked almost symmetrical.
Palpation of the spine tests were totally negative, and Rachel recovered a great quality of life, having gradually restarted to happily perform all her previous activities.