OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of ultrasound (US), dexpanthenol (d-P) and a combination of these treatments (US+d-P) on collagen fiber organization in tegumentary lesions in rats by birefringence analysis. METHODS: Wistar rats (50) were anesthetized (Thionembutal - Sodic = 50mg/Kg), 1cm² of dorsal region skin was removed, and the animals were divided into five groups: control (C), gel (G), US (3 MHz, 0.1 W/cm2, 1 minute, continuous), d-P (10%) and US+d-P. After daily treatment for 7 and 14 days, 6µm thick sections of lesioned areas were stained in picrosirius and measurements of the collagen birefringent area (µm²) were obtained using polarized light microscopy (Zeiss Axiolab-ZEISS- Germany) with histological image analysis software (KS 400 2.0 - Kontrol Eletronics, Munique, Germany). The means were compared by ANOVA followed by the Tukey test (p<0.05). RESULTS: The US+d-P group showed a significantly greater (p<0.001) birefringent area (1586.43±162.14) than the other experimental groups: C (139.36±35.35), US (317.55±129.9) and d-P (192.41±3657) by the 7th day of treatment, indicating acceleration of the wound healing process. By the 14th day of treatment, the US+d-P, US and d-P groups presented greater birefringence than the control group, but did not differ from each other. CONCLUSION: The combination of treatments (US+d-P) accelerated collagen fiber synthesis and organization in the early stages of cutaneous repair.
ultrasound; dexpanthenol; collagen; physical therapy
