Histology of porcine nasal cartilage grafts following Nd:YAG (1320 nm) laser-mediated reshaping: effects of sequential irradiation

Abstract

Mechanically deformed morphologic cartilage grafts undergo temperature dependent stress relaxation during sustained laser irradiation resulting in stable shape changes. In this study, the porcine nasal septal cartilage specimens were evaluated histologically following laser mediated reshaping using H&E. Cartilage specimens were irradiated with light emitted from a Nd:YAG laser (25 W/cm<SUP>2</SUP>, 1 = 1.32 mm) while recording simultaneously radiometric surface temperature, internal stress, and backscattered light intensity from a probe laser. Each specimen received one, two, or three sequential laser exposures. The duration of each exposure was determined from real-time measurements of characteristic changes in backscattered light intensity that correlate with accelerated stress relaxation. A five minute time interval between each laser exposures allowed the cartilage specimen to return to thermal equilibrium. Specimens were then fixed in formalin, serially dehydrated in ethanol, embedded in paraffin, and sectioned with a microtome for histologic examination using light microscopy. Large variation in native tissue histology was observed among individual tissue samples, and vascular were identified in several specimens. Large lacunae with shrunken chondrocytes were identified along with cells with pyknotic nuclei, although these histologic observations did not correlate with the degree of laser exposure. These observations are discussed.