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The histology of laser thermo-chondro-plasty
E Helidonis1, M Volitakis, I Naumidi
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.
Introduction:
Giving a new shape to a cartilage graft has been a matter of continuous study. In 1991, our group managed to change the shape of human nasal septal samples using CO2 irradiation. This procedure, which we call thermo-chondro-plasty, was achieved without the macroscopic carbonization or ablation of the tissue.
Methods:
To study the thermo-chondro-plasty effect of the CO2 laser irradiation on human nasal septal cartilage, samples were irradiated in selected laser parameters and then examined with light and electron microscopy.
Results And Conclusion:
We believe that it was primarily the proteoglycan component of the matrix in which we induced the maximum alterations. The destruction of their water-binding ability led to an uneven reduction of the interlocked tensile stresses of the cartilage and resulted in its transformation.