Morphologic and histologic changes in canine temporomandibular joint tissues following arthroscopic guided neodymium:YAG laser exposure.

A neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser beam was introduced by a quartz fiber passed arthroscopically into the superior joint space of the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) of five mongrel dogs, with one joint serving as a control without laser wounds. Immediate postoperative death and examination of the disc grossly and histologically revealed different patterns for contact and noncontact burn wounds. The wounds exhibited signs of thermal coagulation necrosis similar to those reported in other tissues. The potential implications of the adaptation of the Nd:YAG laser to TMJ arthroscopic surgery are discussed.