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Abstract
Reports of laser energy applied to soft tissues in vitro and in vivo suggest both
stimulation and inhibition of specific metabolic processes, depending on the type
of laser, the energy density (ED) used, the mode of delivery, and type of tissue studied.
An earlier in vitro study of Nd:YAG laser irradiation of articular cartilage indicated
stimulation of both matrix and DNA synthesis for 6 days following laser exposure.
In vivo reports on the ability of Nd:YAG laser energy to stimulate the healing of
partial-thickness cartilage defects are conflicting. In the present study, a noncontact
continuous-wave Nd:YAG laser beam of varying EDs was applied to full-thickness adult
articular cartilage explants maintained in organ culture; the metabolic processes
of chondrocyte DNA synthesis and matrix synthesis were followed over 2 weeks. For
both canine and bovine cartilage, low-levels of laser energy (ED 51–127 J/cm2) stimulated matrix synthesis at 6–7 days following laser exposure, with a concomitant
decrease in baseline DNA synthesis. By 12–14 days, however, these dose-dependent effects
were no longer seen, with no significant differences from control noted for any of
the laser energies studied. Histologic analysis of the cartilage explants following
laser exposure showed no significant differences in cell number or morphology between
sample and control groups; however, a decrease in matrix proteoglycan staining was
seen in the highest laser energy group at all time points. These findings indicate
that exposure to low-level noncontact Nd:YAG laser energy promotes a significant stimulation
of cartilage matrix synthesis. However, a single exposure may not be sufficient to
promote a sustained upregulation of cartilage metabolism. Based on the findings of
this study, the potential for stimulating cartilage metabolism and repair via noncontact
Nd:YAG laser energy applied arthroscopically warrants further study.
Keywords
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Article info
Footnotes
This paper was awarded the John J. Joyce Resident's Prize of the Arthroscopy Association of North America for 1990. It was read at the Annual Meeting of AANA in April 1991 in San Diego, CA.
Identification
Copyright
© 1992 Arthroscopy Association of North America. Published by Elsevier Inc.
