Biomaterial Database

Use of lasers in orthopedic surgery: current concepts. 1993

S P Abelow

Lake Tahoe Sports Medicine Center, CA 46150.

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.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007592	Joint Diseases	Diseases involving the JOINTS.	Arthropathies,Arthropathy,Joint Disease
D009354	Neodymium	An element of the rare earth family of metals. It has the atomic symbol Nd, atomic number 60, and atomic weight 144.24, and is used in industrial applications.
D009985	Orthopedics	A specialty which utilizes medical, surgical, and physical methods to treat and correct deformities, diseases, and injuries to the skeletal system, its articulations, and associated structures.
D010710	Phosphates	Inorganic salts of phosphoric acid.	Inorganic Phosphate,Phosphates, Inorganic,Inorganic Phosphates,Orthophosphate,Phosphate,Phosphate, Inorganic
D002245	Carbon Dioxide	A colorless, odorless gas that can be formed by the body and is necessary for the respiration cycle of plants and animals.	Carbonic Anhydride,Anhydride, Carbonic,Dioxide, Carbon
D006695	Holmium	An element of the rare earth family of metals. It has the atomic symbol Ho, atomic number 67, and atomic weight 164.93.
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001182	Arthroscopy	Endoscopic examination, therapy and surgery of the joint.	Arthroscopic Surgical Procedures,Surgical Procedures, Arthroscopic,Arthroscopic Surgery,Surgery, Arthroscopic,Arthroscopic Surgeries,Arthroscopic Surgical Procedure,Arthroscopies,Procedure, Arthroscopic Surgical,Procedures, Arthroscopic Surgical,Surgeries, Arthroscopic,Surgical Procedure, Arthroscopic
D014025	Titanium	A dark-gray, metallic element of widespread distribution but occurring in small amounts with atomic number, 22, atomic weight, 47.867 and symbol, Ti; specific gravity, 4.5; used for fixation of fractures.
D015019	Yttrium	An element of the rare earth family of metals. It has the atomic symbol Y, atomic number 39, and atomic weight 88.91. In conjunction with other rare earths, yttrium is used as a phosphor in television receivers and is a component of the yttrium-aluminum garnet (YAG) lasers.