Morphological Study of the Wounds Approximated with Nd:YAG Laser Irradiation

Ann experimental study was carried out using the Nd: YAG laser by approximating surgically cut skin wounds in guinea pigs. The wound healing condition was observed by scanning electron microscopically using a tissuemaceration method with an NaOH solution characterizing tissue collagen as well as HE staining for the paraffin specimen. Tensile strength of the wound tissue was measured. The study was carried out under intraperitoneal anethesia with Ketamine solution on the 7th, 21 th and 42th postoperative day and the findings compared with those obtained in the control animals the incised wounds of which was closed by the silk suture methods.The incised skin wounds following laser approximation showed less scarring and faster healing than the conventional silk suture technique. The advantages of this new laser technique were follows; 1) uniformity, 2) low scar formation, 3) strong approximation, and 4) rapid wound healing.This laser technique will be beneficial as a new procedure of skin suture in clinical practice.