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CO2 laser repair of the facial nerve: an experimental study in the rat

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

Joseph C. Dort ,
Markus Wolfensberger  and
Heidi Felix
Joseph C. Dort*
Affiliation:
Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Markus Wolfensberger
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
Heidi Felix
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology of the University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
*
Joseph C. Dort, M.D., Department of Surgery, Section of Otolaryngology, University of Calgary, Room 193A, Heritage Medical Research Building, 3330 Hospital Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 4N1.
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Abstract

The facial nerve is often injured by trauma, infection or during the course of tumour resection. Many techniques of nerve anastomosis have been described with the current standard nerve repair using the microscope and monofilament suture. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the CO2 surgical laser as a tool for facial nerve anastomosis. Following preliminary electrical measurements 36 nerves were anastomosed using either laser or conventional monofilament suture. Laser anastomosis had neither beneficial nor detrimental effects on nerve regeneration. This method of anastomosis may be advantageous when surgical access is limited. In addition this study found that the use of CO2 laser as a dissecting or vapourizing tool in proximity to intact facial nerves results in degenerative changes.

Keywords

Facial nerveLaser surgery
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 108 , Issue 6 , June 1994 , pp. 466 - 469
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1994

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Footnotes

Presented at the VIIth International Symposium on the facial nerve, Cologne, June 9–14, 1992.

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