Laser ablation of bone and ligament for nerve root decompression using the Ho: YAG laser may offer substantial advantages, but the risk of serious complication may only be avoided if the technique is combined with saline irrigation.
The results showed a significant linear correlation between the mass loss and pulse energy, and between the mass loss and radiant exposure. Electron microscopy and histology showed that the Ho:YAG ablation resulted in a very sharp and clear border with little charring. Applying 0.01 k.J of total energy at two different settings (1.5 J/p, high power, and 0.5 J/p, low power) at 15 pulses/sec, the cross-sectional area/mm(2) of the ablated bone was measured, using light microscopy and the Scion Image analysis program. The ablated areas were 2.28 +/- 0.87 and 1.16 +/- 0.43 mm(2) at high and low power, respectively (p = 0.008).
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