Safe parameters for laser chondroplasty of the knee

✍ Scribed by Janecki, Chet J.; Perry, Michael W.; Bonati, Alfred O.; Bendel, Michelle

• Book ID: 102646160
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1998
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 678 KB
• Volume: 23
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0196-8092
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1096-9101(1998)23:3<141::aid-lsm3>3.0.co;2-p

✦ Synopsis

Background and objective:

The purpose of this study is to summarize our use of the holmium laser as a tool in performing chondroplasties of the knee and to determine whether any untoward affects developed at the site of laser application.

Study design/materials and methods:

A retrospective review of 504 laser chondroplasties of the medial femoral condyle was done. laser parameters and the average number of joules to perform the chondroplasties were recorded. the average follow-up was 11 months.

Results:

Preoperative mri interpretation indicated that 8% of the patients had osteonecrosis prior to surgery. 88% of the patients were satisfied with the procedure. all failures were evaluated by x-ray, mri, bone scan, or biopsy of the medial femoral condyle. no new cases of osteonecrosis were determined.

Conclusion:

No new cases of osteonecrosis were documented of the medial femoral condyle following laser chondroplasty utilizing the parameters in this study. the holmium laser remains a safe and efficacious tool in performing chondroplasty.