title: Use of lasers in orthopedic surgery: current concepts.
abstract: A surgical laser is a new, multipurpose tool that can cut, coagulate, and vaporize tissues. It utilizes a low profile handpiece that allows easy access to tight places and small joints. The holmium laser at 2.1 microns wavelength is gaining wide acceptance among orthopedic surgeons as a useful arthroscopic surgical tool. It has a minimal amount of thermal necrosis and is able to cut and ablate tissues with great ease. Current investigation with laser tissue--agglutination and tissue welding--may make it possible to repair torn tissues with laser energy. The future will bring minimally invasive and minimally damaging laser orthopedic surgery.
authors.affiliation: Lake Tahoe Sports Medicine Center, CA 46150.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Abelow
mesh_terms: D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D006695:Holmium; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D009354:Neodymium; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D010710:Phosphates; D014025:Titanium; D015019:Yttrium
chemical_list: D010710:Phosphates; C064806:potassium titanylphosphate; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D009354:Neodymium; D015019:Yttrium; D014025:Titanium; D006695:Holmium