Laser use in foot surgery

Laser is an acronym for Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Laser surgery is rapidly gaining the interest of both the medical practitioner and the general public. Since the first reported use of laser surgery in podiatry in 1980, a large number of laser surgery centers for treatment of foot and ankle disorders have appeared throughout the country. A relative paucity of literature exists about applications of lasers in foot and ankle surgery, and orthopaedic surgery as a whole. This is further compounded by the fact that very few of the existing studies are scientifically significant, either due to inadequate numbers, questionable study design, or a combination of these factors. At the present time, it appears that the only worthwhile application of lasers in foot and ankle surgery is for the treatment of plantar warts that are resistant to more conventional methods of treatment. As more well-controlled studies on the applications of lasers become available, the future of lasers in foot and ankle surgery will become more apparent. The purpose of this study is to present a summary of the use of lasers in orthopaedic foot and ankle surgery. The current clinical applications will be presented, followed by an overview of basic laser physics, laser characteristics and effects on tissue, and laser safety. Because of the growing interest in laser surgery by the medical profession, and the increasing public awareness of this relatively new and exciting technology, it is important that orthopaedic surgeons have a good understanding of laser surgery.