A morphological study of the effect of the Cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator system near human peripheral nerves.

The Cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator system was used to clear superficial tissue from the greater auricular nerve in four human subjects. Following stimulation, the nerves were removed together with an untreated section and processed for examination by light microscopy. Significant damage had been sustained by these nerves, which was not apparent in the control sections. Disruption of the perineurium, intraneural hemorrhage, endoneural edema, and degenerative changes of the myelinated nerve fibers were seen. Damage to neural tissue was evident 0.5 to 1.5 mm in advance of the point of contact with the cutting tip.