title: In vivo animal trials with a scanning CO2 laser osteotome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We report first results of animal trials using an improved laser osteotomy technique. This technique allows effective bone cutting without the usual thermal tissue damage.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comparative in vivo study on mandibles of seven canines was done with a mechanical saw and a CO(2) laser based osteotome with a pulse duration of 80 microseconds. The laser incisions were performed in a multipass mode using a PC-controlled galvanic beam scanner and an assisting water spray.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A complete healing through a whole bony rearrangement of the osteotomy gap with newly build lamellar Haversian bone was observed 22 days after the laser operations under optimal irradiation conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An effective CO(2) laser osteotomy without aggravating thermal side effects and healing delay is possible using the described irradiation technique. It allows an arbitrary cut geometry and may result in new advantageous bone surgery procedures.
authors.affiliation: center of advanced european studies and research (caesar), Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2, 53175 Bonn, Germany. ivanenko@caesar.de
authors.forename: Mikhail
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ivanenko
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sader
authors.forename: Said
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Afilal
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Werner
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hartstock
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: von Hänisch
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Milz
authors.forename: Wolf
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Erhardt
authors.forename: Hans-Florian
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Zeilhofer
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hering
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005740:Gases / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D023421:Models, Animal; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D002245:Carbon Dioxide