Comparison of Er:YAG laser and piezoelectric osteotomy: An animal study in sheep

Abstract

Objectives: It was the aim of this study to compare the feasibility of complete osteotomy of long bones in sheep using a newly designed variable square pulsed Er:YAG laser and piezoelectric surgery. In addition to uneventful bone healing after laser osteotomy, the goal was to assess the possibility to cut thick bony structures with both techniques in a surgically acceptable time frame of 2-3 minutes.

Material and methods: A tibia midshaft osteotomy was performed in 24 sheep using either an Er:YAG laser (n = 12) or piezoelectric device (n = 12). Laser and piezoelectric groups were divided in two subgroups (n = 6) with sheep sacrificed after 2 and 3 months, respectively. A complete radiological, histological and histomorphometric analysis was performed to compare the course of bone/fracture healing and remodelling.

Results: Laser and piezoelectric osteotomies of the sheep tibia up to a depth of 22 mm were possible without any thermal damage. Radiological and histological results after 2 months showed primary gap healing with distinct periosteal callus formation on the transcortex. After 3 months, radiological and histological analysis revealed less callus formation on the transcortex, with almost no visible osteotomy gap and a distinct formation of lamellar bone crossing the original osteotomy gap.

Conclusion: Er:YAG laser osteotomy can successfully be used in long bones with a depth of up to 22 mm, thus challenging the dogma of adverse effects of laser osteotomy due to thermal or other damages.