A comparative histological study of wound healing following Nd:YAG laser with different energy parameters and conventional surgical incision in rat skin.

Wound healing following the use of Nd:YAG laser with different frequencies and energy parameters (20 pps and 1.75 W/30 pps and 3.0 W), and the conventional scalpel incision were studied over a period of 4, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days in the rat skin. The low-energy laser wounds could not be significantly differentiated from the conventional incisions although less damage and inflammatory reaction, increased matrix production, and only a little wound contraction could be demonstrated. In the high-energy lased tissues extensive damage and an increased inflammatory reaction were present. The low-energy Nd:YAG and scalpel incisions established a normal wound healing without scar tissue formation compared to the high-energy Nd:YAG, where the necrosis was higher.