Laser tissue welding and repair of digital flexor tendons

P. J. Drew; Michael N. Kiernan; A. D. MacGregor; Marc Clement

doi:10.1117/12.230354

19 January 1996 Laser tissue welding and repair of digital flexor tendons

P. J. Drew, Michael N. Kiernan, A. D. MacGregor, Marc Clement

Proceedings Volume 2623, Medical Applications of Lasers III; (1996) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.230354
Event: BiOS Europe '95, 1995, Barcelona, Spain

Abstract

Injuries involving division of the flexor tendons of the hand are a common surgical problem. Sutured repairs must be strong enough to withstand early active movement. Experiments were designed to assess the strength of bonds formed between tendon sections as a result of heating (1) under controlled conditions in a water bath and (2) using a carbon dioxide laser (laser tissue welding). The load (N) and stress (N/cm²) required to disrupt thermal bonds between bovine tendon sections heated for 4 minutes in water peaked at 62 degrees Celsius (13N, 11.3N/cm²). Further experiments revealed the optimal time period for heating to be 9 minutes (21.5N, 20.6N/cm²). A threshold effect was apparent at these parameters. The in vitro strength of sutured, laser welded and sutured and laser welded tendon repairs was compared in a rabbit model. Laser welding alone did not produce repairs as strong as sutured repairs. It did, however, augment the strength of sutured repair. This effect was maximal at a power of 0.1 W.

Citation Download Citation

P. J. Drew, Michael N. Kiernan, A. D. MacGregor, and Marc Clement "Laser tissue welding and repair of digital flexor tendons", Proc. SPIE 2623, Medical Applications of Lasers III, (19 January 1996); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.230354

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