Laser cartilage reshaping in an in vivo rabbit model using a 1.54 microm Er:Glass laser

The potential applications for facial laser cartilage reshaping (LCR) have generated increasing clinical interest. This study aimed to evaluate in vivo LCR of the rabbit ear using a 1.54 micro m Er:Glass laser in combination with contact cooling.

LCR was performed in vivo on 12 rabbit ears using a 1.54 micro m Er:Glass laser (Aramis, Quantel Medical, Clermont Ferrand, France) connected to a 4 mm chilled (+5 degrees C) handpiece placed in contact to the skin. Ear curvature was predetermined using a perforated cylindrical guide also used to standardize laser beam delivery. The treatment consisted of 15 spots (3 millisecond, 7 pulses, 12 J/cm(2), 2 Hz, 84/cm(2) cumulative fluence) applied on 10 contiguous parallel rows along the ear. After irradiation, the aluminum jig was replaced by a holder (10 mm diameter plastic tube) maintaining the curvature. This holder was secured with sutures and covered by an adhesive gauze bandage dressing to keep new form during 7 days. In order to assess thermal damage, biopsies were taken on irradiated areas and 1 week, 3 weeks and 6 weeks and studied using haematoxylin-erythrosin-safran (HES) and orcein staining and PCNA to detect cells in cycle.

Using the laser with the parameters given above, no immediate visible effects were observed on the skin (no swelling, no bleaching). There were also no late visible side effects like crusting, or blistering. The laser treatment produced changes in the shape of every ear after the dressing was removed. A slight tendency to recover its initial shape was observed for each ear. However, the curvature was stabilized after 10 days and the average shape retention was 64+/-4% at 6 weeks, with a curvature radius of 7.25+/-0.75 mm, instead of 5 mm initially. Histological examination of the laser irradiated side at 1 week showed an intact epidermis. A reduced inflammation process was seen in the dermis. A modification of half of the layer of cartilage was observed at the opposite side where the laser irradiation was applied and proliferative cells were detected inside. At 3 weeks, an important chondroblastic proliferation was observed around the area of contracted cartilage. At 6 weeks, significant thickening of the cartilage layer was observed (from 300 to 490 micro m) and new chondrocytes were clearly seen.

Rabbit ear cartilage can be reshaped with an Er:Glass laser. This technique could offer exciting possibilities that may help patients whose cartilage-lined joints have been affected by disease or trauma. This technique could be certainly utilized to correct alar cartilage deformities and septum deviation of cleft lips.