Cartilage shaping using the Er:YAG laser: preliminary report.

Cartilage grafts have been widely used for reconstruction of congenital or acquired deformities. Reshaping and preserving the new shape of the cartilage grafts have been a problem. In this in vitro experimental study the authors studied the effect of the Er:YAG laser on cartilage reshaping in comparison with scalpel stripping and suture holding. The study consisted four groups (n = 9): group I, untouched cartilage; group II, the short edges of the cartilage were sutured to each other; group III, cartilage was incised using a scalpel; and group IV, Er:YAG laser stripping was applied to the cartilage. Changes in the shape of cartilage were evaluated at 15 minutes, and days 1, 4, and 10. The majority of cartilage in the scalpel-stripped group returned to the initial shape by day 10, whereas the laser-stripped cartilage showed progressive warping day by day, and almost all cartilage formed a circle by day 10. The Er:YAG laser enhanced cartilage warping by a mechanical effect of stripping and a thermal effect of laser radiation resulting in ultrastructural changes.