Minimally invasive scoliosis treatment with a Ho:YAG laser

Christian G. Rumpf; Robert D. Lang; Marcus H. Goetz

doi:10.1117/12.409311

16 November 2000 Minimally invasive scoliosis treatment with a Ho:YAG laser

Christian G. Rumpf, Robert D. Lang, Marcus H. Goetz

Proceedings Volume 4161, Optical Biopsy and Tissue Optics; (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.409311
Event: EOS/SPIE European Biomedical Optics Week, 2000, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

Today most surgical treatment of spinal deformations is concentrated on invasive mechanical techniques with long operation times and major effects on the patient's mobility. The proposed minimally invasive technique using laser light for tissue ablation offers a possibility of gentle scoliosis treatment. It is thought that an early removal of the epiphysial growth zone on the convex side over several vertebrae results in a straightening of the spine. In a first evaluation, four different laser systems including argon ion, Nd:YAG (Q-switched), Nd:YAG (cw), and Ho:YAG laser were compared with respect to thermal damage to adjacent tissue, ablation rates, efficiency and laser handling. For in-vivo investigation, fresh lamb spine was used. Comparison showed that the Ho:YAG laser is the most appropriate laser for the given goal, providing efficient photoablation with moderate thermal effects on the adjacent tissue. In a second step the proposed minimally invasive operation technique was performed in in-vivo experiments on young foxhounds using 3D- thoracoscopic operation techniques. During these operations temperature mapping was done using fiber-optic fluorescent probes. After 12 months of normal growth the animals were sacrificed and x-ray as well as MRI was performed on the spine. First results show a positive effect of scoliotic growth in two cases. Being able to produce a scoliosis by hemiepiphysiodesis on the vertebra, It is thought that this technique is successful for a straightening of the spine on patients with scoliosis.

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Christian G. Rumpf, Robert D. Lang, and Marcus H. Goetz "Minimally invasive scoliosis treatment with a Ho:YAG laser", Proc. SPIE 4161, Optical Biopsy and Tissue Optics, (16 November 2000); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.409311

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KEYWORDS

Laser ablation

Spine

In vivo imaging

Laser tissue interaction

Nd:YAG lasers

Magnetic resonance imaging

Temperature metrology

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