Laser therapy
Interstitial laser therapy in Lugano
A percutaneous technique with a sterile catheter that carries light to a depth of about 12 cm, for deep chronic conditions. Indication after a specialist visit. It is not a catheter in the joint, nor light in the blood.
- Sterile percutaneous catheter, light to about 12 cm
- Deep chronic conditions, indication at the visit
- Not intra-articular, intravenous or dermatological
How it is applied
The catheter
A sterile catheter enters percutaneously and takes laser light into the tissue, to a depth of about 12 cm.
Intra-articular laser
If the target is the joint, the catheter sits in joint tissue, not in deep tissue. That technique is on the intra-articular page.
Intravenous laser
Light in the bloodstream is a different route, with a dedicated catheter in the blood. That technique is on the intravenous page.
Dermatological laser
On the skin (eczema, wounds, PDT) is another modality. The catheter of about 12 cm is not a dermatological indication.
When we assess it
Deep chronic conditions
The visit discusses whether to take light into the tissue, when the target cannot be reached from the outside.
What the studies say
On low-level laser carried into tissue by a catheter, controlled studies are few: at the visit it is weighed against external laser, which is better studied.
Other laser modes
Local non-invasive, intra-articular, intravenous and dermatological modes are described on the Laser therapy page. The route is chosen after the diagnosis.
Note
In invasive applications local anaesthetic is used at the entry point. The contraindications, listed on the Laser therapy page, are checked at the visit. Like any treatment it can have unwanted effects, and a better result than external laser is not guaranteed: we discuss this at the visit.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as intra-articular laser?
No. Here the sterile catheter enters the tissue percutaneously. In intra-articular laser the catheter sits in the joint. Light in the blood is on the intravenous page.
Is it painful?
Local anaesthetic is used at the catheter entry point.
How many sessions are needed?
The number of sessions is decided with you at the visit, according to the complaint and how you respond to treatment.
Is it covered by insurance?
The physician holds the RME quality label for acupuncture and Chinese medicine, and in Ticino the practice bills complementary insurers: with complementary insurance, under certain conditions, the treatment can be reimbursed. Patients with basic insurance only receive a clear cost estimate at the visit and pay directly.
Scientific sources
- Hamblin MR. Mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation. AIMS Biophys. 2017;4:337–361. doi:10.3934/biophy.2017.3.337
- Navratil L, Kymplova J. Contraindications in noninvasive laser therapy: truth and fiction. J Clin Laser Med Surg. 2002;20:341–343. doi:10.1089/104454702320901134
More sources on the page Laser therapy.
Related treatments
This therapy is part of Laser therapy.
Not sure which treatment is right for you?
For musculoskeletal pain the practice follows several routes, often combined. The specialist visit, with ultrasound when needed, clarifies which one is indicated in your case.
Rheumatology
Diagnosis and treatment plan: the first visit when the pain is in the joints, back or tendons.
Acupuncture
Needles, needle-free laser or ear acupuncture, performed by a specialist physician.
Interventional pain therapy
Ultrasound-guided injections of joints and soft tissues, with hyaluronic acid or PRP when indicated.
PRP for joints and tendons
Plasma prepared from the patient's own blood and injected into tendons and joints.
The information on this page is for general information only and does not replace medical advice. The indication, expected benefits and risks of every treatment are assessed individually during the specialist consultation.
Let's assess interstitial laser together
Indication and mode are defined after the specialist consultation.
We accept referrals and second-opinion requests from your physician, via HIN. dr.djordjevic@hin.ch
How to reach us
In Lugano, a short walk from USI and EOC
The practice is centrally located in Italian-speaking Switzerland, also reachable by car and by train from Mendrisio, Bellinzona, Locarno and Chiasso.
By car: the practice's own car park is right in front. By public transport: a short walk from USI.
Address
Via Alessandro Volta 1
6900 Lugano
Opening hours
Monday–Friday 08:00–16:30
Saturday and Sunday closed
Phone
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