Closure of skin incisions in rabbits by laser soldering II: Tensile strength.
OBJECTIVE
The basic characteristic property of wound closure is the immediate and long-term tensile strength (LTS). The objective of the current study was to compare tissue laser soldering to other available methods (i.e., cyanoacrylate glues and sutures) in the performance and outcome of wound closure and reparative healing process, with an emphasis on the immediate and LTS.


METHODS
The animals were divided into three groups according to the type and details of the closure procedure. Group A: laser treatments at different temperatures were compared to sutured incisions, emphasizing the LTS after 10 days. Group B: laser soldering at 65 +/- 5 degrees C was compared to chemical glues (i.e., Histoacryl and Dermabond), emphasizing the immediate tensile strength (ITS). Group C: LTS of laser soldered incisions was compared to that of sutured incisions at various time intervals emphasizing LTS (3, 7, 14, 28 days).


RESULTS
Group A: LTS at 60 degrees C exhibited the highest values (0.48 MPa). Group B: no ITS difference was detected between laser soldering and chemical glues. Group C: soldered incisions at 65 degrees C exhibited higher LTS (1.81 MPa) than that of sutured incisions (1.08 MPa) (P < 0.043).


CONCLUSIONS
Temperature-controlled laser soldering at 65 degrees C provided sufficient ITS and higher bonding LTS values compared with sutures, resulting in better wound healing characteristics. The laser soldering system presented here should be tested on larger animal models before adopting it for clinical usage.
Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel. tbrosh@post.tau.ac.il
Tamar
T
Brosh
David
D
Simhon
Marisa
M
Halpern
Avi
A
Ravid
Tamar
T
Vasilyev
Naam
N
Kariv
Zvi
Z
Nevo
Abraham
A
Katzir
D000818:Animals; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D053685:Laser Therapy; D011817:Rabbits; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014945:Wound Healing