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Laser radiation can be used to reshape cartilage grafts via thermally mediated stress relaxation. While several studies have addressed the biophysical changes accompanying reshaping, cartilage viability following laser irradiation has not been extensively investigated. The objective of this study was to determine the extent of angioinvasion of irradiated cartilage explant placed onto the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model. Angioinvasion of the tissue matrix does not occur in viable cartilage tissue, whereas denatured tissue is readily vasculairzed and/or resorbed in vivo. Porcine septal cartilage specimens were removed from freshly sacrificed animals and divided into three protocols (n=10 each group) consisting of an untreated control, cartilage boiled in saline solution for one hour, and a laser irradiated group (Nd:YAG, λ=1.32 μm, 30.8 W/cm2, irradiation time = 10 sec). Following laser irradiation, tissue specimens were washed in antibiotic solution sand cut into small cubes (~1.5 mm3). The cartilage specimens were placed onto the surface of twenty CAMs, six of which, survived the entire 14 days incubation period. After incubation, the membranes and specimens were fixed in situ with formaldehyde, an then photographed using a dissection microscope. Cartilage specimens were prepared for histologic evaluation and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Examination with a dissecting microscope showed no obvious vascular invasion of the cartilage or loss of gross tissue integrity in both the control and laser treated groups. In contrast, boiled specimens appeared to be partially or completely resorbed by the surrounding CAM vascular network. These gross findings were also confirmed by histological examination. In summary, our preliminary studies suggest that cartilage specimens treated using the present laser parameters remain resistant to angioinvasion or metabolism by the CAM, whereas boiled tissue undergoes resorption. Clinically, uncontrolled heating may result in total resorption of cartilage with catastrophic sequelae such as infection, necrosis, and total graft resorption. This study underscores the importance of preserving cartilage viability during laser surgical procedures relying on a photothermal mechanism.
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