Adjunctive photobiomodulation therapy in pediatric facial burns in hospitalized children in Southern Brazil: a case series

Abstract Purpose To describe the feasibility of incorporating adjunctive photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT), delivered by a hospital dental team, into the multidisciplinary inpatient care of children with superficial partial-thickness facial burns and to report the short-term clinical course. Methods This descriptive case series included three hospitalized children (aged 1 year and 10 months to 7 years and 5 months) with superficial partial-thickness (second-degree) facial burns at Hospital Infantil Joana de Gusmão, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil. Burn depth was assessed clinically. PBMT was performed concomitantly with conventional burn care using a 660-nm diode laser (100mW, 10s, 1 J, and 35.7 J/cm2 per point), with the laser tip positioned as close as possible to the skin without direct contact. Irradiation points were spaced approximately 1 cm apart covering the entire burned surface, and sessions were performed once daily on weekdays. Re-epithelialization, discomfort reported by caregivers and healthcare professionals, and adverse events were recorded. Results PBMT was initiated three to four days after injury, and six to eight sessions were performed without interruption of standard care. Progressive re-epithelialization of the irradiated facial lesions was observed, with complete or near-complete re-epithelialization at the last available assessment (14–40 days after injury). Caregivers and healthcare professionals subjectively reported reduced discomfort during wound care. No adverse events associated with PBMT were observed. Conclusion Adjunctive PBMT delivered by the hospital dental team was feasible and well tolerated within multidisciplinary inpatient care for children with superficial partial-thickness facial burns. Because healing was consistent with the expected course of this burn depth under conventional care, these findings do not establish therapeutic efficacy. Controlled studies with objective outcome measures and longer follow-up are needed.